Recognizing that the forms of oppression experienced by white middle-class women were different from those experienced by black, poor, or disabled women, feminists began seeking to understand the ways in which gender, race, and class combine to "determine the female destiny".
Tõdemus, et rõhumise vormid, mida on kogenud valged keskklassi naised, erinevad neist, mida kogevad mustad, vaesed või puudega naised, viis feministid selliste käsitluste otsinguni, mis ühendaks viisid, kuidas sugu, rass ja klass "naise saatust määravad".