This text-reader investigates the core question of how race, class, and gender function as interlocking systems of inequality within contemporary United States society. Diana Kendall, a sociologist with extensive experience in social stratification, compiles a diverse array of scholarly articles to illustrate these dynamics at both micro- and macro-sociological levels. The book utilizes a combination of theoretical frameworks and empirical research to demonstrate how these three systems shape individual experiences and broader social structures.

The subject matter points to a dense, academic-focused text designed for undergraduate students and researchers seeking a comprehensive overview of intersectional social theory. The framing suggests a structured, pedagogical approach that prioritizes primary source material to provide a rigorous introduction to the complexities of social inequality.