The Meaning Behind a Gift

How has the meaning behind a gift changed within modern society? Gifts were used in the old days as a form to express ones appreciation for another. But it seems that in today's world gifts are given out of obligation instead of with love.

Much of this obligation surrounding gifts has come from our consumerist society, which markets gift giving as a way of earning another person 'true love'. Mothers and Fathers are forced to provide their children with gifts that live up to the standards of those gifts their child's friends are receiving.

How have gifts become a status symbol in society? Gifts have become status symbols in society because there are now certain possessions that people are expected to have. If a person does not have items like an I-Pod, X-box, Cell Phone, or Computer their status within our material society is in some ways seen as lower.

Children feel the need to own these electronics, because every one of their friends has the same new gadget. The pull towards the newest and brightest new toy has led parents to abandon giving those gifts which their child does not desire. Every kid wants the new X-box, and therefore it must be the best gift a parent could give their child.

I feel that over the coming years, gift giving is going to transform in tremendous ways. Electronics and other such entertaining devices may no longer been seen as gifts, but as common tools that each person is expected to have. Consider cell phones and computers. Once they were luxury items, but they have now become such necessitated tools within society, that it is hard to imagine a time when everyone didn't have one.

Gift giving must slowly meander away from mainstream consumption to maintain its sentimental bearings. If it is not able to do this, I feel all meaning behind the gift will be lost.