There are few things in life that mothers cherish the most: their children, a tidy bedroom and a complete set of "Tupperware"... not necessarily in that order. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, the word "Tupperware" is commonly used to designate a plastic food container. Although it refers to a kitchenware brand name, in Lebanon, the word "Tupperware" became a noun and has been added to the Lebanese dictionary, just like Kleenex (for tissue paper), Kotex (for sanitary pads), Bic (for pens) and Kolinos (for toothpaste)... 

 

But unlike the other products, Tupperware is not just a commodity... It's a movement... In recent history, Tupperware has been one of the most effective peace building tools. Through Tupperware-themed parties also known as "Sob7iyet Tupperware" (Tupperware breakfasts), the brand name succeeded in bringing together the most bitter ennemies: the women of any given neighborhood. While the immediate objective of these parties is to demonstrate and market the product line, over the years, the activity has produced significant unintended outcomes: Em Tony finally visited Em Ali, Em Fouad took a break from gossiping about Em Tony's daughter, and Em Raymond left her spying spot... and the neighborhood stood quietly for a whole morning. 

 

If you ask these women, what is the elusive item that they would save if their house caught fire, the response will unanimously be the "Tupperware". To many of these women, their collection of Tupperware is more precious than their jewelry. Some of them have even listed it in their will as a transferable asset. This finally solves the riddle of the missing Tupperware in many wokplaces and explains why coworkers steal each others' lunch boxes...

 

But while Tupperware has been serving a peaceful purpose on community level, it is seen by many as a major source of conflict on household level. A huge number of fights has been recorded in homes between mothers and other household members as a result of forgotten or lost Tupperware.

 

I usually avoid going home when I unintentionally leave my Tupperware at work because I  know that I will be greeted with "Where is your Tupperware?" rather than "How was your day" and that I will be subjected to a painful interrogation about the unforgivable oversight, that even the most skilled intelligence agents cannot endure...