Samra Habib

Samra Habib is the author, main character, and narrator of We Have Always Been Here. Born in Pakistan, she immigrates to Canada as a child where she faces bullying and racism before eventually finding a strong group of friends. From a very young age, particularly after she was sexually molested at four years old, Samra feels a responsibility to show her parents that she is put together and okay. She strives to be a good daughter and sister and takes on somewhat of a caregiving role in her family, particularly after the family moves to Toronto. From a young age, Samra is also surrounded by images and expectations of traditional femininity and female gender roles rooted in patriarchy and sexism. However, she finds herself inherently drawn to non-normative expressions of gender and femininity.

Though Samra initially goes along with her parents' wishes when she is a...