Decoding bias and social disorder in mafi’s a very large expanse of sea via broken windows theory

The challenges faced by some Muslims in Western countries have emerged as a significant social concern after the September 11th attacks 2001. Muslims have faced unprecedented waves of profiling and bias by authorities and individuals due to these attacks. The proclaimed “War on Terror” exerts a potential force in hardening the experiences of Muslim individuals leaving long-lasting physical and psychological repercussions. Tahereh Mafi’s novel A Very Large Expanse of Sea deals with some of these biases and profiles experienced by the character of Shirin, the major character. Thus, the current study investigates the bias and untreated social disorder in Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea (2018) using James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling's Broken Windows theory (1982). The study follows a descriptive qualitative analysis guided by the theory’s concepts of visible signs of disorder where the protagonist faced different acts of degrading and physical torment, antisocial behavior, and community response to these acts, as methodological tools for the analysis. Besides, the author's point of view and the socio-historical context are taken into consideration in the data analysis. Accordingly, the study concludes that the unaddressed disorder against Shirin emerges as a catalyst in intensifying her anguish and consequently leads to significant hardships in her life. The study also concludes that the inaction of authorities serves to perpetuate Shirin’s suffering and escalate the turmoil in her life. Moreover, the unaddressed bias against Shirin leads to a greater disorder paving the way for different individuals to commit crimes against her. The study necessitates the importance of treating minor actions so that they do not lead to greater ones. It also introduces the need for social and institutional reform to advocate for social justice and equality.