In Roxane Gay's book "Difficult Women," winter is portrayed not just as a season but as an enduring emotional experience, suggesting a deep and often harsh impact on the human psyche. This extended period of cold lasts for six to seven months, creating a backdrop that influences the characters' lives and moods. The extreme conditions serve as a metaphor for struggle and resilience.

The familiar chill of winter reflects a state of being that the characters must navigate, highlighting the difficulties they face in both their personal and external environments. The setting becomes almost as oppressive as the emotional states portrayed, encapsulating the challenges of life in a seemingly unyielding world.