Rebels run the world! Luke Skywalker, Beyonce, Amy Schumer, etc. In the book Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples, Shabanu is definitely a rebel, but she lives in Pakistan, she is a muslim and has a strict father. That means she is beaten and hurt by being a rebel, which is very different than being a rebel in New York City. Shabanu’s life is ruined by many things including herself. Shabanu’s characteristics hurt her because she is not proper, she is impatient, and she is rebellious.  

Shabanu being not a proper muslim girl causes her a lot of problems. She is a wild girl, “I bite him like a wild animal” (page 61). She also speaks her mind, which a muslim girl is not supposed to do. “I clamp my mouth shut, But I am not ashamed of what I think.” (Page 213). Much of what Shabanu does isn’t “proper” in the islamic world. She gets beaten for these things which is why it hurts her and changes her. People treat her differently because to them she is acting unladylike. There are other traits that fight against her in life, like being demanding.

Shabanu is impatient and this affects her life in a bad way. Shabanu isn’t patient, but that isn’t such a bad thing. “When the platform slows I’m more excited and pleased than relieved. I want another ride.” (page 51). This isn’t a bad trait. This means she can get things done quickly and efficiently. Shabanu won’t wait for life to come to her, she will tackle life head on. This will help her in life because she will get things done. Shabanu is also a defiant girl.   

Shabanu is hurt by her rebelliousness. Being a rebel in Pakistan is very different from being a rebel in New York. It might be cool to be a “rebel” in the city, but there it is a disgrace. Shabanu will fight for herself. “I fight them, ‘I won’t do it!’” (page 191). She won’t give up her opinion and take her father’s one instead. “I will not marry a man whose wives will make me their slave. I’ll die first.” (page 234). This won’t sound very strange to an american because americans would say the same things, but in Pakistan it is forbidden to not follow your father on your religion. In the Islamic tradition, these type of things that Shabanu thinks are out of the ordinary. This makes everyone think of Shabanu as weird and that is why it hurt her, physically and mentally.  

No matter who you are and where you come from, your characteristics can be taken the wrong way. A good trait can be a bad trait across the world. Shabanu’s life has been ruined by not being an ordinary muslim girl. Shabanu’s traits hurt her because she is substandard, she is demanding, and she is rebellious. Shabanu wants to have carte blanche, but by trying to get that she has dug herself a deeper hole. Muslim girls don’t get that sense of having their own life. People need to know that for every bad trait there is a good trait inside. This is mostly directed towards women because there are standards that women have to live up to, but they shouldn’t be like that because women should be rebellious against sexism in everyday life.