The Color of Jealousy

The Book of Genesis tells a story of Joseph and The Coat of Many Colors. Jacob, Joseph's father, favored Joseph the most and gave him a beautiful coat that had many different colors. Not only did his brothers already feel the favoritism before this, but now Joseph is wearing it right on his sleeves. Joseph started to think that he would get the role of family leadership now that his father gave him this coat, and even told his brothers of a dream he had where they bowed down to him. This coat made Joseph feel more powerful and  mighty than his brothers and it boosted his ego into thinking he can treat his brothers poorly. This infuriated them so they plotted out against him and threw him into a pit. They then retrieved him from the pit and sold him to a company of Ishmaelite merchants. The vengeful brothers took Joseph's coat and dipped it into goat blood and presented it to their father, stating wild beasts have killed Joseph. Although this story is biblical, similar situations still occur today. Many people, especially in high school, treat people a certain way due to their clothing. If one does not have nice clothing people will treat them with less respect than someone who had a more fashionable outfit. This is not how society should be but it is how it has been for many years. Everyone wants the newest bag, newest shoes, newest brand name because that's what celebrities show off in the magazines, everyone aspires to be the best and have the best and they want everyone to know it. Women can be very catty and jealous and have spiteful thoughts but they sometimes take it too far when it comes to clothing. Clothing shows status and wealth and many girls can become envious of others that have more than them. If a parent gives one child something of better value than their other child this could add jealousy and drama. The only good thing that can come out of this is when someone admires someone else's clothing or accessories and decide to buy it themselves or reinvent the idea. Clothing can make or break a relationship of any kind. In Laura Bovone's Fashion, Identity and Social Actors she states, "More than other objects we choose, buy and use, it seems to involve our social identity; like many other objects, it communicates something inner to the outer world, makes values and affiliations concrete" (83). Society needs to stop treating people a certain way because of their clothes and more by their actions and personality before another person gets jealous and throws their loved one into a ditch.