Social Funсtion of Gift Exchange Transformation in Intergenerational Perspective (the Case of Moscow Family)

Key words: Gift exchange, Intergenerational Perspective, Social function, Qualitative research, Moscow families. The aim of this work was to study the transformation of the social function of gift exchange in Moscow families in intergenerational perspective. It was expected to understand what social functions can carry out the gift exchange in the family? How are changing social functions of gift exchange through the prism of a different generation? How Muscovites perceive such changes? Within the survey were conducted 16 in-depth interviews (on the subject of gifts, and related situations of donation, occurring within the family) with extended families: one interview with representatives of the older generation (grandparents) and their grandchildren. Conceiving such a selective approach was intended to identify the intergenerational “contrast”, as the older generation was grown up and educated in a completely different country, with different values, unlike today's youth. It was revealed that the gift exchange performs two important functions that despite the time remain unchanged.