A Heideggerian hermeneutical analysis of older women's stories of being strong.

As people in our society live longer, affirming the quality of their lived experience becomes more important. The purpose of this study was to ascertain and analyze the meanings of "being strong" as revealed from within the stories of older women. A Heideggerian hermeneutical approach, from a critical feminist perspective, was the methodology used. The sample consisted of 12 women, 7 White and 5 Black, over the age of 65. A team of researchers analyzed the transcripts. Findings consisted of three constitutive patterns: "Surviving," "Finding Strength," and "Gathering the Memories ... Seeing the Patterns."