Final answer:
The perspective exploring the combined effects of race, class, and gender on women's experiences is known as intersectionality theory. It addresses how different aspects of identity intersect, creating unique and complex layers of disadvantage, particularly for women of color.
Step-by-step explanation:
The perspective that focuses on the interaction of race, class, and gender in the disadvantages faced by women is known as intersectionality theory. This concept, initially articulated by Kimberlé Crenshaw and further developed by Patricia Hill Collins, posits that the various aspects of one's identity cannot be examined in isolation from one another. Factors such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and others interlock to shape the experiences and disadvantages of individuals, particularly for women of color who face multiple, simultaneous oppressions.
For instance, anthropologist Faye Harrison explains that "race is always lived in class- and gender-specific ways", underscoring the unique experiences that result from the convergence of these aspects of identity. This is crucial to understanding the complexity of prejudice, where for example, a poor Asian woman may face compounded stereotypes related to her socio-economic status, gender, and ethnic background, differentiating her experiences from those of a white woman impacted by gender-biased prejudice alone.