Criticisms can normally be grouped into two larger concerns either (1) the difficulty of applying the concept to research methods, and (2) the difficulty of negotiating - being able to calculate or properly capture - the multiplicative nature of identities.

Leah Warner in a 2008 article articulates that intersectionality theory is not a usable research method because of the trickiness involved in quantitative research with including multiple dimensions of social identities in research methods.

There is a fear by some that due to the difficulty negotiate the multiplicative nature of identities if we break down every identity we end up dissolving groups and looking at people just as individuals.