Malala Yousafzai inherited a great deal of her progressive values from her father, the social activist and school founder Ziauddin Yousafzai. An outspoken critic of both the Taliban and militant Islam in general, Malala's father prizes education and believes girls and women have just as much a right to learning as boys and men. Because of these beliefs, he allowed the young Malala to attend school and gain a liberal arts education, which was uncommon in Pakistan, where most of the female population remains illiterate throughout life.

In this culture, women are supposed to remain in the home in order to serve their male family members, making any kind of education beyond housework inappropriate, but Malala's father was determined that his daughter would receive an education. Due to her father's support and example, Malala was inspired to become a champion of women's right to education and other freedoms.

When the Taliban occupied Swat and forbade girls and women from attending school, Malala and her family were resistant to these demands. Malala continued to speak out against these injustices, which led to her being targeted by Taliban assassins. Luckily, she survived, allowing both her and her father to continue their work in promoting the importance of education for all people, regardless of gender.