This book investigates how race functions as a social construct in relation to intersecting divisions of ethnicity, gender, and class. The authors, Floya Anthias, Harriet Cain, and Nira Yuval-Davis, utilize a sociological framework to deconstruct the boundaries that define racial identity. By integrating multiple analytical lenses, they argue that race cannot be studied in isolation but must be understood through its interaction with broader social hierarchies and power structures.

Scholars and students frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the complexity of social divisions. The prose is noted for its accessibility while maintaining the academic rigor required for sociological research in ethnic and gender studies.