Over the weekend I read a story that warmed my heart.

Across Indonesia, women are lifting their friends and families out of poverty by hosting parties. Tupperware parties, to be exact.

Tupperware parties are similar to Mary Kay and Avon parties if you’ve ever heard of those. Basically, a bunch of women get together and a spokeswoman for the company showcases all of the latest products, hoping to make some sales.

Flickr: Athenamama

Tupperware parties were all the rage in 1960s America, and now they’re having a moment in Indonesia. Joe Cochrane of The New York Times explains the trend:

“Indonesia is, in many ways, Tupperware’s sweetspot. As the economy has taken off in recent years, an expanding middle class now has more disposable income for containers of all shapes and sizes that are sturdier than those found in local markets.”

To add to that, women in Indonesia have traditionally stayed home, caring for the children and preparing meals. In addition to the obvious convenience that Tupperware provides to homemakers, Tupperware parties allow friends to get together, break up the monotony of housework, and catch up on a little girl talk.

That’s all well and good, but here’s the best part: the ladies selling Tupperware are breaking with tradition by challenging gender roles and contributing to their household income.

According to Cochrane,

"Tupperware’s Indonesian sales force, not about 250,000 strong- racked up sales of more than $200 million last year, according to the company. For some women who choose to join the sales team, the company has provided a way out of poverty- about half the population lives on less than $2 a day- and prescribed social roles."

As a sales rep, ladies have the flexibility of working as much as they like. Ms. Amelia, for instance, started off selling part time so she could continue to work in the family restaurant. Now, six years later, she is a regional manager, running about 20 parties a month. As a result, she and her husband have been able to sell their restaurant so she can focus her energy entirely on Tupperware sales.

“Initially my husband refused to let me sell Tupperware even part-time because he thought it might affect the restaurant,” she said. “Now he works for me.”

I just love that.

Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with families structured so that one parent works and another cares for the home and kids. But on the same note, I find it very rewarding to provide for myself financially. There’s a confidence and a satisfaction that comes with seeing your hard work provide tangible results. And I find the sense of purpose that comes with it to be incredibly motivating. But what I love best about these parties is that they’re all about empowering and supporting women.

Women play a crucial role in development at all levels, but today too many women are left out. To truly lift communities and nations out of poverty, it’s vital that women become actively involved in their communities and in the workforce. It’s also as crucial to have women in political and leadership roles.

Practically speaking, women engaging in the workforce can be a major turning point for a country’s economy. Just think- when women engage in the workforce, a family’s income can double in some cases. So it’s not just about equality- it’s also about taking advantage of a missed opportunity for growth and development.

As more women around the world become empowered, we’ll be one step closer to a more just, and equitable world. So to all the ladies in Indonesia, keep those Tupperware parties coming!