We were just a few weeks past our two-week attempt to flatten the curve when discussions of wearing coverings in public ensued. One year later, face masks are starting to feel like more than just a temporary measure to stop the spread. They seem on the verge of becoming normal, everyday clothing. They have already become a fashion item in some circles.
Should we be okay with this? Should we just accept the fact that the powers that be may never again recommend leaving home without a face covering? It is hard question to answer and one that many people avoid under the assumption that the CDC will not allow this to continue forever. But such assumptions are far from being guarantees.
Would You like a Face Mask with That?
If you live in Salt Lake City, Utah, you can visit The Stockist men’s and women’s clothing boutique in downtown. You will find all sorts of clothing for men, women, and children along with jewelry, accessories, and household items. You will also find a good selection of face coverings.
The Stockist is merely demonstrating good business practices by selling face masks alongside their other clothing items. After all, people want and need them. Clothing boutiques like The Stockist do what businesses do. They identify a need and meet it.
However, a recent BuzzFeed discussing “39 Clothing Basics You Should Buy” includes face masks alongside everything from yoga pants to undergarments. The key operating word here is ‘basics’. Lumping face masks in with the rest of the items on the list creates the impression that covering the face is now a normal expectation.
Perhaps it is. But should it be? That is really the burning question. Should we just accept the concept of covering the face as the new and permanent normal, or should we continue to hold out hope that the whole thing is merely a temporary inconvenience?
A Culture of Mask Wearing
It has been observed that people of Asian descent are less likely to resist calls to wear face masks in public because it has been part of their culture for so long. In 2020, the Huffington Post published a long piece extolling the virtues of Asian masking policies in contrast to those of us in the West who resisted calls to mask up.
The slant in this piece was obvious from the get-go. It is just assumed that people who do not wear face masks are either terribly ignorant or refuse to believe science. In East Asia, they apparently don’t question the science because wearing masks is part of the culture. Entire generations have grown up with the idea of masking up. They think nothing of it.
Here’s the danger: people in East Asia wear masks in public even when there is no threat of widespread illness. They just wear them because that’s what they do. Such practices may be fine for some people, but not everyone is on board.
The Science Is Not Settled
The truth about masking up is that the science isn’t settled. The fact that the CDC and WHO have flip-flopped numerous times is proof enough. If you need more proof, just look at the progression of coronavirus worldwide. You’ll find very few statistical differences between places that require facemasks and others that do not.
It is quite possible that masking up will become permanent. Seeing facemasks sold as fashion accessories is evidence that we are moving in that direction. Even if health officials do not mandate masks permanently, Western society might just voluntarily adopt them on their own. Is that what we truly want?
Comments are closed.