[1][2] The topic of multiculturalism is explored by Phillips with reference to such subjects as feminism, anthropology, political theory, law, and philosophy.

[3] Her inspiration to write the book stemmed from the contrasting concerns of multiculturalism challenging the rights of women and feminism encroaching upon the well-being of cultures.

A central part of her theory rests on the idea that people in minority cultures have autonomy.

Her discussion weighs many different perspectives on multiculturalism provided by an array of modern writers on the subject.

[7] Professor Anna Yeatman of the University of Western Sydney posted on H-Net that the book "goes only so far theoretically" but that it was "an excellent and considered argument for multiculturalism at a time when it has come under attack from all quarters.