The book is an attempt to understand what factors led these women to break the law, in some cases, repeatedly. Their crimes included prostitution, drug abuse, theft, physical abuse, assault, and arson. The four common themes that emerged during interviews with these women prisoners were need, disconnection and the influence of others, visible anger, and fear. Further analysis revealed two related, underlying themes: the centrality of relationships in women's lives, and their personal search for empowerment. This feminist analysis, which focuses on the sexism, racism, and classism suffered by women, presents a multidimensional picture of these women's lives that suggests a need to rethink conventional theories regarding criminal motivation. 2 appendixes, chapter notes, and 211 references