For you will find, as women have found through the ages, that changing the world requires a lot of free time. Requires a lot of mobility. Requires money, and, as Virginia Woolf put it so well, "a room of one's own," preferably one with a key and a lock. Which means that women must be prepared to think for themselves, which means, undoubtedly, trouble with boyfriends, lovers, and husbands, which means all kinds of heartache and misery, and times when you will wonder if independence, freedom of thought, or your own work is worth it all. We must believe that it is. For the world is not good enough; we must make it better.
In "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose," Alice Walker emphasizes that achieving meaningful change in the world demands significant investment in personal freedom and resources. Women must have the time, mobility, and financial means to create the change they envision. A crucial aspect of this pursuit is having a personal space, as noted by Virginia Woolf's concept of "a room of one's own," which serves as a metaphor for independence and creative autonomy.
However, pursuing this independence often entails challenges in personal relationships, leading to emotional struggles and conflicts with partners. Despite these difficulties, Walker urges women to persevere and advocate for their visions, as the need to improve the world is crucial. Ultimately, women must believe in the value of their independence and creativity, as the world can always be made better through their efforts.
