This volume investigates the intersection of material conditions, class structures, and gendered experiences to define the framework of materialist feminism. Editors Chrys Ingraham and Rosemary Hennessy compile foundational and contemporary essays that analyze how economic systems and social hierarchies shape the lives of women. By grounding feminist theory in historical materialism, the authors argue that gender oppression cannot be understood in isolation from capitalist production and class struggle.

Scholars and students of sociology frequently cite this collection as a primary resource for understanding the materialist branch of feminist theory. Experts highlight the text for its rigorous academic density and its success in synthesizing complex economic and social arguments.