The United States, and the West in general, have always organized society along bipolar lines. We are either white or black, gay or straight, male or female, disabled or not.

In recent years, however, America seems increasingly aware of those who defy such easy categorization. Yet, rather than being welcomed for the challenges they offer, people "living the gap" are often stigmatized by all the communities to which they might belong. These hybrids befuddle courts because existing classifications do not fit them. Ruth Colker here argues that our bipolar classification system obscures a genuine understanding of the very nature of subordination.

By rejecting conventional bipolar categories, we can broaden our understanding of sexuality, gender race, and disability. Acknowledging that categorization is crucial and unavoidable in a world of practical problems and day-to-day conflicts, Colker shows how categories can and must be improved, for the good of all.