“Unequal Destinies: Economic Inequality, Social Marginality, and Anonymous Deathˮ

Abstract

Abstract This paper discusess Elif Shafak’s novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange Word in the light of scholarship developed in the sociology of death, discrimination, and social exclusion. The paper argues that Shafak’s novel constitutes a literary exploration of social problems, and especially the condition of female abuse and discrimination, in the Turkish society and the broader Muslim world. The book tells the story of Leila, a prostitute working on the streets of Istanbul, her sufferings, and her tragic end. Focusing on narrating Leila’s troubled life, Shafak engages with difficult social issues such as immigration, marginality, stigma, poverty, and sexual violence against women. The book constitutes a powerful plea for humanity, kindness, and empathy.