Unlike traditional feminist histories, Davis's work specifically centers the experiences of Black and working-class women, offering a critical examination of how race and class shaped women's struggles for equality, while challenging the conventional narrative of the women's rights movement.

The book spans from the era of American slavery through the late 20th century, examining key moments in feminist history, the abolition movement, labor rights, and civil rights struggles, showing how these movements intersected and evolved over time.

The analysis of systemic inequalities and intersecting oppressions presented in the book continues to inform contemporary discussions about feminism, racial justice, and class struggle, offering crucial insights for modern social justice movements and understanding current social inequities.