When each of his eight daughters married, instead of taking a dowry, my grandfather took just a single, symbolic dollar from the groom’s family. I think of my grandfather as Women’s History Month ends and contemplate how his break with tradition changed the history of women in my own family. He might even have played a role in helping change the trajectory for women in Nigeria. I also think about my grandfather whenever I cradle my infant daughter, who my husband and I welcomed into the world in November. For millions of women around the world, outsourcing care for their children or other household duties is not an option.

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Persons: Aduba, Suzanne “, Warren, Uzo Aduba Robert Maxwell, —, didn’t, ”, JoJo Whilden Organizations: Netflix, United Nations Development Programme, CNN, Nigeria —, UN, UNDP Locations: Nigeria, Orange, United States, Hollywood