In Passing, Larsen discusses the intersectionality of a white passing biracial woman’s identity. The novel follows the story of a charming woman who is able to navigate between the spaces of white and black society. With her portrayal of Irene’s character, Larsen reflects on the duality of such an identity and the experience that comes with it.

The importance of such a narrative is representation for the many biracial African-Americans that were dealing with a myriad of social injustice at the time. The focal point of these characters is their struggle with their mixed identities in a world where society was heavily impacted by the racial separation in the country. Larsen’s characters created an image of Black women where they were intersectional and diverse, surviving in a country where everything was heavily based off their race. Larsen’s writing brought the identity of women who were both Black and white into perspective.