The book explores the relationship of poverty to notions of self and personal and cultural identity in later life. The personal meaning of poverty in later life is subjective and not always directly related to financial status. In each chapter, the authors introduce their conclusion regarding the area they are dealing with and document how the particular concept or conclusion fits in by presenting case studies. Each includes demographic information, a brief background of the woman's life, and a number of quotes from the interview interspersed with the authors' interpretation of the narrative. This discussion of the subjective interpretation of poverty provides a foundation for later chapters.
Subsequent chapters contribute to the development of our understanding of the paradox of poverty.
Women construct their expectations about how their lives might turn out through family legacy, gender, social class, and perceived personal limitations. The contrast between the poor and non-poor women is striking. Non-poor participants interpret their experiences as continuations of their life plan, while for the poor, simply reaching old age is an accomplishment. The theme of each life story reflects the way the individual anchors her self and links her self-concept with the circumstances of her life. Independence, seen by the poor women as making choices within the boundaries of poverty, was a pervasive theme in all the life stories.