Beyond the Mold: Rethinking Education and Gender Norms | Amna Niazi | TEDxISL Pine Youth
Amna Niazi, an ambitious advocate for education reform and gender equality, is redefining
success beyond societal norms. Growing up in a culture where rigid traditions often dictate a
woman’s future, she found her escape in education, research, and the culinary arts. She argues
that rigid curricula stifle creativity and force students into predefined molds of success, limiting
individual potential. Amna also believes that early marriages and limited opportunities suppress
talent, denying women the chance to explore their passions. Through her work, she challenges
deep-rooted expectations, urging a shift toward a system that encourages innovation, critical
thinking, and personal growth.
Growing up in the 1980s as the third daughter of a conservative Pathan household meant that Amina Niazi experienced limited autonomy. With every breath, she felt suffocated, noticing the sighs and disgust of those around her because she was a girl and not a boy.
However, an opportunity knocked down her barred door in the form of college. Here, she learned to raise her voice against prejudice through competitive debate competitions. Despite this, she was unable to get rid of her traumatic past which followed her like a shadow at all times.
The turning point for her came while vacationing in the streets of Italy, where taking a cooking class became the key to the puzzle she had struggled with her whole life. She fell in love with cooking and, through it, with herself. Today, she explores the hidden cuisines of Pakistan. Through her platform, she knocks at the barred doors and is the aroma of the freshly baked bread guiding others to love themselves. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 9:05Musical Performance | Jet Black Diamonds | TEDxLjubljanaOriginating from the Vipava Valley, the band Jet Black Diamonds is made up of five young men. They are united by their youthful energy and love for writing original music. Free from the constraints of musical styles, they combine different musical genres, but most often, as they say, they are drawn to modern variants of rock 'n' roll. In 2021, they first made waves with their debut single, “Retro Anorak”. After local success, the song reached a wider Slovenian audience and, as the Song of the Week in August, became one of the most played songs on the national radio station Val 202. A few months later, the Jet Black Diamonds dominated the student band competition Šourok 2021 and released a new single, “Še zadnjič”, followed by a nomination for the Slovenian Music Award “Zlata piščal” for Best New Artist. In 2022, they released their first EP, “Večvredne romance”. From the album, three songs became Songs of the Week. In April 2024, they released their first LP, “Sladki problemi” which they presented at the sold-out Kino Šiška, Ljubljana’s urban cultural centre. They believe this album will help them land among the most influential Slovenian music artists. On the TEDxLjubljana stage they performed their original songs “Retro anorak” and “4 od 10”. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx. Originating from the Vipava Valley, the band Jet Black Diamonds is made up of five young men. They are united by their youthful energy and love for writing original music. Free from the constraints of musical styles, they combine different musical genres, but most often, as they say, they are drawn to modern variants of rock 'n' roll. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 4:56Musical Performance Part II | UM & KUNA Freestyle Show | TEDxLjubljanaHave you ever thought about what it would look like if freestyle rap and improvisational theatre were combined into one show? Let us introduce you to the UM & KUNA Freestyle Show – a unique experience in Slovenia where words, freestyle rap, and improvisational theatre become one. UM & KUNA create rhymes in real time, on a topic chosen by you – the audience! Visitors were in for an evening of surprises, creativity, and fresh rhymes, accompanied by DJ L.T. who took care of the background music.For the first time on the TEDxLjubljana stage, we introduced this exceptional improvisational music performance that took visitors into a world they helped co-create.At the event, we asked the visitors, “Which word best describes the energy of TEDxLjubljana today?” They had to write down only one word or phrase. Answers were sent through the Mentimeter platform which displayed them on the stage screen in real time. UM & KUNA Freestyle Show chose a few of them and created a meaningful improvisational rap. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx. UM & KUNA Freestyle Show – a unique experience in Slovenia where words, freestyle rap, and improvisational theatre become one. UM & KUNA create rhymes in real time, on a topic chosen by you – the audience! Visitors were in for an evening of surprises, creativity, and fresh rhymes, accompanied by DJ L.T., who took care of the background music. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
