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Lorde discusses the position of an oppressed woman in that we constantly find "legitimate" difference between men and women, however, Lorde argues that we should seek to uncover and discuss the differences within the category of women as well. The differences between women such as race, class, age, ethnicity, religion and sexuality demonstrate the intermeshed oppressions that people experience uniquely from one another.

She encourages a dismantling of patriarchal dualisms that have created structures of oppression and the internalization of oppression that oppressed people carry with them. In particular, she discusses the experiences of Black lesbians, herself included saying: "I find that I am constantly being encouraged to pluck out some one aspect of myself and present this as the meaningful whole, eclipsing or denying the other parts of myself" (122). In this quotation, Lorde expresses her frustration in society’s refusal to acknowledge multiple identities and oppressions. This, in effect, limits the progressive movement of women (and other oppressed groups) as a whole. Social, economic, and educational mobility are prevented by the silencing of some oppressions in favor of others. It continues to create hierarchical lines of separation and reinscribes oppression.

Finally, Lorde discusses the heteronormative oppression found within the Black community: One that is linked to sexism and often suppresses the identities of Black lesbians out of fear from Black male attack. She claims that this stems from a patriarchal fear of women becoming independent and self-relying which may reconstruct our normative notions of relationships and the role of women within society. As women, we must come together without a hierarchical structure of oppressions and use our simultaneously occurring identities to better understand difference as a tool to allow for growth and change.