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Gift Wrapping Ourselves: The Final Gift Exchange

Department of Sociology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Address correspondence to Drs. Jonathan Marx or Jennifer Solomon, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Winthrop University, 701 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29733. E-mail: marxj{at}winthrop.edu or solomonj{at}winthrop.edu

Objective. This qualitative study examines the "final gift exchange" process by which older adults give cherished possessions in return for lasting appreciation.

Methods. We interviewed 54 middle- and upper-middle-class people (39 women) aged 50–90 who had to dispose of personal objects when moving to smaller residences.

Results. We used Goffman's spiraling strategy in our analysis of people's reports of disposing of personal possessions. We identified three salient dimensions (family, economy, and self) of this process and created a heuristic describing eight ideal-type gift exchange scenarios by categorizing objects as valued or not valued by family and the economy as well as being an important aspect of the gift giver's material self.

Discussion. By applying the heuristic, we observed that a lack of shared definitions of the meaning and value of objects created dilemmas in disposing of personal objects, particularly those connected to a person's material self. We also offer suggestions for making the process go more smoothly, such as inquiring about the preferences of others and telling stories associated with objects to create shared definitions of the objects' significance to the giver and/or to family history.