Reading Response 2

               In Zelizer’s  “Payments and Social Ties” the author brings into focus the different payment methods and how they can be used in a social context to convey meaning. The first issue that was brought up was the difference between gifts, entitlement and compensation. I thought that it was very interesting how the author described compensation as a transaction that reaffirms people have the same level of social equality. I found the fact the author described about how given the specific context of the compensation transaction it is truly the only payment form that leaves no strings attached. What I mean by this is the fact that when someone gifts another person, there is sometimes an unspoken agreement that the receiver then needs to reimburse the giver later. The other stipulation that comes with this is if the receiver is unable to re-gift the giver, they are economically subordinate the giver. Entitlement on the other hand is curious as it denotes the person receiving the entitlement to be superior for some reason over other’s that are not benefiting. This is such a fascinating concept especially within the family structure. Often when a family member passes, they will leave more of their will to one family member over the other on the premise that one family member is favored. Overall, I felt looking at these three different forms of payment was eye opening as it brings to light such an unspoken and perhaps covert part of payments within our society.