This week's Difficult Women is the award-winning Turkish author Elif Shafak. Known for her powerful storytelling that explores identity, cultural conflict, and feminism Shafak’s work resonates deeply with global audiences, especially in light of recent protests in Turkey. Her bestselling novels like The Bastard of Istanbul and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, she has won numerous awards, including the Prix Médicis étranger and the Lannan Literary Fellowship. An outspoken advocate for human rights and free expression, She continues to challenge oppression through her writing, making her a vital voice in both literature and activism.

Elif Shafak: Turkish writing in troubled times