Strange Encounters

This book explores the effects of multiculturalism and globalization on community and identity through feminist and postcolonial lenses, challenging perceptions of the stranger as both a threat and a source of diversity.

Strange Encounters utilizes feminist and postcolonial theory to explore the effects of multiculturalism and globalization on concepts of embodiment and community. The author delves into the ethical and political implications of these critiques within the framework of post-colonial feminism. By examining how we perceive strangers, the book challenges the notion that a stranger is merely someone we do not recognize. Instead, it suggests that strangers are socially constructed figures who are often perceived as familiar.

The text analyzes a variety of narratives that shape the idea of 'the stranger.' It highlights the conflicting perspectives surrounding this figure, illustrating how strangers can be seen as threats, as in the context of neighborhood watch initiatives, or embraced as sources of diversity within multiculturalism. The author critiques both of these viewpoints, labeling them as forms of 'stranger fetishism.' This concept suggests that such perceptions mistakenly attribute an independent identity to the stranger, overlooking the complexities of social relationships and the influences of cultural context.

Overall, Strange Encounters presents a nuanced examination of how multiculturalism and globalization shape our understanding of community and identity. By interrogating the relationship between strangers and societal constructs, the book invites readers to reconsider their assumptions about belonging and difference, ultimately contributing to a richer dialogue within post-colonial feminist discourse.