This concept of “intersectionality” underlies much of the work in this book.  Intersectionality began as part of feminist theory, concerned as it was with the intersection of race, gender, class and other factors in women's lives. It has now jumped the fence into cultural studies, racial/ethnic studies, and multiculturalism.

There is clear evidence that health varies by race, gender, and class, but the general understanding of those issues -- grounded in, for example, genes, biological processes, or aspects of the social environment -- shapes the solutions that we propose.  There remains a need for theoretical and empirical examination of the interrelationships of race/racism, class/classism, and gender/sexism in the production of disparities in health and illness. 

This edited volume brings together an interdisciplinary group of social scientists and public health scholars to examine these issues. Included are top scholars and theoreticians, as well as young, emerging voices whose work has already captured the attention of their fields. 

Part I of the book covers theories of health disparities, from biomedical, public health, and social sciences perspectives. This section includes a chapter by Jack Geiger, MD, of the Sophie Davis School of Medicine, City University of New York, one of the most revered and decorated pubic health scholars and theoreticians on these topics.

With basic theories explained, Part II examines how research, treatment, and prevention are affected (sometimes adversely) by public understandings of gender, race, and health. The chapters apply this examination to the three top public health concerns: depression, HIV AIDS, and occupational safety.

Part III focuses the lense of intersectionality on an understanding of health issues in variously defined ethnic communities (black female, latina, white, and Mexican-American),. Ruth Zambrana of the University of Maryland, one of the unofficial deans of intersectionality as a method of inquiry, has a chapter in this section.

Part IV’s chapters apply an intersectional critique to show that economic status is more a factor than race/culture in access to health services.

Ending on a practical note, Part V examines the possibilities of influencing policy and improving health through a better understanding of its intersectional nature. This section includes a chapter from Dr. Mary Northridge, Mailman School of Public Health and Editor of the field’s journal of record, American Journal of Public Health.