1. What is essentialism? What role does it play in daily life in Ben Thanh market? How does Leshkowich's analysis of essentialism relate to Taussig or Ong's discussion of workers' subjectivities?

2. How has gender shaped marketplace activities under both socialism and market socialism?

3. What are sociofiscal relationships? Why are concepts like tinh cam, subjectivity, and morality important for understanding these relationships?

4. Leshkowich describes her book as offering a study of the political economy of appearances. What does she mean?

For more information, contact:  aleshkow@holycross.edu