Inequality And The Rise Of Quarantine Envy

We have all seen those work from home Instagram posts with beautifully detailed ‘spaces’ that might make an interior designer’s wet dream.

Envy can raise its ugly head in many ways and take many forms, perhaps stemming from a desire to emulate or just plain vanilla schadenfreude, where one finds contentment in the misery of others.

In a time of quarantine — when comparisons often involve who has the best version of being alone — dwelling with envy can open our eyes to ourselves and the world.

Do these negative feelings say something about ourselves? Are they specific to another person? Or do they reflect an unjust system which has taken inequality to unsustainable levels?

A system where the disadvantaged walk hundreds of miles back home for lack of work, while ‘digital nomads’ post while they pose in the best possible light.