When something is given, something is always inherently given back in exchange. But gifts work best when you pay them forward. You must find another place to use your knowledge acquired from others. It is this passing along that creates the ’Gift Economy’.
Currently
In our highly materialistic world, monetary gains are normally the focus of people’s contributions. The market economy is deliberately impersonal, but the whole purpose of the 'Gift Economy' is to establish and build up the relationships between us and to connect us one to the other. It is via the circulation of gifts in the communities that there is an increase in relationships and associations.
Our current economic system is encouraged by self-motivation and stands on the foundation of ‘exchange’- giving in order to be given. The satisfaction of another’s need is used as a medium to satisfy one own self (Kollock, 1999). So the exchange or 'market' economy is entrenched in the concepts of inequality, scarcity, quantifiable correspondence of value, and acquisition. However, the ‘Gift Economy’ is rooted in the concepts of parity, large quantity, unquantifiability, generosity and connection.
Gift Economies are not brand new; there have been around for sometime but maybe in other forms (Kollock, 1999). An example would be the hunting societies.
Anyway, being a member in ‘Multiply’ (www.mulitply.com) has enabled me to benefit from numerous amounts of entries posted by my friends and their contacts. It is just like our regular blogs. Nevertheless, in my opinion, majority of the ideas and events mentioned are extremely personal. It surprises me at times those delicate issues are willingly
posted. Most of the time I witness advises in the form of comments being posted. Even though, there is an exchange without expectations, there is a form of blockage here. At times not everyone is willing to contribute openly. Hence, there is a breakdown in the contribution. Therefore, let me move on and talk about another ‘Gift Economy’ with a constant flow of messages, ‘Femalefirst’ forum (http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/).
‘Femalefirst’ is the new appearance of Female online communities. It is the fastest growing site in its field, a site that has been created by women for women. It can also be called a community where over 3,000,000 women discuss issues, solve problems, share experiences, and speak their minds openly. My cousin from London tipped me off about this site a year ago and I have been a member since then.
These women who are member have built a community that is their own, an area that they feel at home in, somewhere they can break away from from life's pressing issues and chill out in the company of other like minded individuals.
The forum as mentioned above, allows discussion of all sorts of women’s concerns. Posting questions is as easy as receiving replies and suggestions. Topics discussed range from politics, fashion, health matters to even motoring details. My most favorite and benefited discussion topic would be on the family issues. Here women out there share their struggles eagerly to help and educate girls like myself. After learning about the experiences of others, I too feel encouraged to share my encounters.
Another incentive from engaging in this forum would be the gaining the knowledge of women all over the world. I get to understand their mindsets and perspectives (they also provide amazing fashion and skincare tips:) )
Conclusion
Hence this is my example of a ‘Gift Economy’. Through this I have learnt that the ‘Gift Economy’ is about 'agency'. You should be an active consumer of gifts. Everyone has within them the capability to contribute, and the network will only grow if everyone turns the gifts they have received to others. We need to learn to become responsive of our own agency.
Reference:
Kollock, Peter (1999). 'The Economies of Online Cooperation; Gifts and Public Goods in Cyberspace" Retrieved February 7, 2007 from http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/faculty/kollock/papers/economies.htm
Pollard, Dave (2005). "The Gift Economy" Retrieved February 7, 2007 from http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/2005/04/17.html
Open Source Definition (2007), Voices from the open source revolution Retrieved on February 7, 2007, from http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/opensources/book/perens.html
Kollock, Peter (1999). 'The Economies of Online Cooperation; Gifts and Public Goods in Cyberspace" Retrieved February 7, 2007 from http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/faculty/kollock/papers/economies.htm
Pollard, Dave (2005). "The Gift Economy" Retrieved February 7, 2007 from http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/2005/04/17.html
Open Source Definition (2007), Voices from the open source revolution Retrieved on February 7, 2007, from http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/opensources/book/perens.html
1 comment:
Maria, good job though you could have given an actual account of how someone might have benefited from the women's forum, and matched the scenario with principles of the gift economy.
Full grade awarded. :)
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