Happy Women’s History Month!
Here at Opportunity International, we are proud to honor women, celebrate their achievements, and draw attention to the barriers that still impact their ability to live the lives they deserve all year long. But every March, we take special time to pause and reflect—both on how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.
Worldwide, women remain underrepresented and unable to access equal opportunities for work, education, financial independence, and more. Through custom-designed programs like our agent banker initiative in India, we are committed to reaching and including women so that they can have autonomy over their finances and futures.
We are also committed to learning—which is why we are excited to read a powerful, tragic, and celebrated novel about women in India this month. Join us as we dive into Honor by Thrity Umrigar.
In Umrigar’s masterfully crafted ninth novel, we learn more about the tragedy of honor killings, which have been used to enforce brutal control over women in certain communities. The story begins with an unspeakable act that brings two women together, and what ensues is an unforgettable story of love and courage as they each try to navigate the impossibility of being true to themselves under an oppressive system of local customs. Meena and Smita are characters that will stick with you long after you turn the final page.
In this deeply human tale, Umrigar illuminates the contradictions between belonging and ostracization, love and betrayal, and family—both born and chosen.
