Old women face a unique set of obstacles in their quest for empowerment. In this study the concept of empowerment is explored by politicizing issues of personal safety. The most significant factors that impede an old woman's sense of safety and control include oppression, primarily ageism and sexism, along with violence and fear. For this study, thirty-nine women over sixty were self-selected for semi-structured interviews as a result of their participation in a personal safety workshop. Interviewees ranged in age from sixty to eight-three, were of diverse cultural backgrounds, and most resided in a metropolitan area. An emancipatory methodology was used as a means to empower participants throughout the research process. The study is both exploratory and interpretive, with the subjective voice of the researcher present throughout the project. Acts of resistance and survival were reflected in the daily lived experiences of the interviewees, validating the premise that old women face obstacles in their quest for empowerment. / Graduation date: 1997