The Age of the Face Mask by Emma Krug

Emma Krug
Professor Sinowitz
Principles of Literary Study
12 May 2020

The Age of the Face Mask

  Today, in May of 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio, I have my own customized face mask sitting on our hallway table right next to my car keys. My pink mask is handmade and patterned with Disney princesses. I received my mask in the mail two weeks ago from my younger cousin Nicola, and that day was the first time I ever wore a face mask to cover my mouth and nose. Before, I only associated these masks with surgeons or doctors, but now I have my own to take with me whenever I leave the house. About a month and a half ago, Nicola decided to make as many face masks as she could from home with her own materials and sewing machine. At a rate of approximately 15 minutes per mask, Nicola was able to produce 50 masks for ER doctors and healthcare workers and an extra 15 for family members and friends. She mailed the 50 masks (along with homemade cookies and a thank you note) to a Chicago hospital for those working on the frontlines of the current coronavirus pandemic.

         Two months ago, in March of 2020 in New York City, New York, Cheryl Man “felt very humiliated and misunderstood” as she travelled to work in the morning wearing a mask (Leung). As featured in the Time article by Hillary Leung, Man is 20 years old and ethnically Chinese, and on her way into the office, people gave her weird glances, and even a group of teenagers mocked her by fake coughing as she passed by. People noticed Man because she stood out in a crowd; no one else had a mask on, and strangers reacted by judging her or seeing her behavior as socially unacceptable. Man’s co-workers saw her mask and asked whether she was sick or not. To outsiders, her mask seemed alarming, not meant for healthy people, and absurd. However, for Man, she wore her mask in order to be cautious and protective of others. Man describes her motives behind wearing the face mask in public: “‘Why do they think it’s about me? It’s a civic duty,’ she says. ‘If I have a mask on, and if—touch wood—I’m infected, I could cut the chain off where I am. That could save a lot of people’” (Leung). She doesn’t wear the mask solely for herself or out of fear of catching contagious germs; instead, she also considers the well-being of others and does her part to control the spread of a novel virus. A cultural difference arises when, on one hand, at this time, the United States had not endorsed the idea of all citizens wearing face masks throughout their daily routine. On the other hand, Man’s home-city Hong Kong encouraged everyone to buy face masks and use them when going out. So, unfortunately, when Man abides by social practices in Hong Kong while in New York City, cultural tensions and xenophobia arise.

        Over 100 years ago, in the fall of 1910, Doctor Lien-teh Wu created a respirator mask to combat the spread of the Manchurian plague. A Fast Company article by Mark Wilson reports how prior to this time, surgical masks were introduced and used beginning in 1897, but they were nothing “more than a glorified handkerchief around one’s face” (Wilson). Wu was called upon by the Chinese Imperial Court, and even though he was underestimated and not taken seriously, he personally discovered that the plague was an airborne disease. From there, he went on to create a layered face mask with gauze and cotton. The fabric allowed for better inhalation, and it covered an individual’s nose and mouth more efficiently so there was less exposure on the sides. While others tried to copy Wu’s design, his mask was the most successful and was mass-produced especially in January and February of that year. This mask is considered to be the first modern respirator and “became a symbol of modern medical science looking an epidemic right in the eye” (Wilson). Not only was this particular face mask helpful for the Manchurian plague, but it also proved to be useful for the Spanish flu in 1918. The face masks from 1897 helped to initially keep doctors from spreading droplets onto their patients, either from sneezing or coughing. But this particular evolved model of the face mask was better able to ensure that the spread of bacteria in the air was also reduced.

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        Since the time of the Manchurian plague and Wu’s original design progress, we have now seen further developments with face masks: from the simpler surgical mask to the more intense N95 respirator mask. All sorts of face masks exist, ranging in quality, fabric type, and coverage of the face. Due to their origin, we often associate masks with medical use and stopping the spread of germs, but face masks are also used for other purposes. In places where air pollution is heightened and air quality suffers, individuals wear masks to prevent themselves from breathing in toxins. Or, on construction sites, workers wear masks so they don’t breathe in dust, particles, or mold. The mask, in many ways, is seen as a type of protection: it shields people from harm and blocks them from ingesting dangerous substances into their bodies. However, even though there seems to be a common goal with the creation and use of face masks, the acceptance of face masks in different cultures can vary drastically. As we’ve seen, the most tension arises between Western and Eastern countries. In Eastern countries, more specifically in Asian countries, a historical trauma exists that has allowed face masks to become more normalized. Severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS broke out from 2002 to 2003 especially in Asian countries, and “nowhere in the world was hit as hard as Hong Kong, where almost 300 died of the virus—accounting for over a third of official SARS fatalities worldwide” (Leung). This difficult time helped to influence the way people in Asia perceive the spread of viruses and the use of face masks. The Time article cites Ria Sinha for her findings, and she concludes, “Although the younger generation do not remember SARS, their parents and grandparents did experience the fear and uncertainty of a novel infectious disease, and the loss of daily normality…Mask wearing is not always a medical decision for many people, but bound up in sociocultural practice” (Leung). Wearing the face masks in recent years is less about the fear of current illnesses, but more about an acknowledgment of previous times and wanting to avoid similar circumstances in the future. From the SARS experience, more people in the East are wired to be more cautious and proactive when it comes to viral disease. Sinha sees the mask as a way to show solidarity to one another (Leung). The face masks recognizes the past, but also shows pride in one’s country and its people. Individuals who wear face masks support the idea that they do not want to repeat history or allow more people suffer.

  In addition to past experiences with infection, many citizens in Asian countries also wear face masks on a daily basis for a multitude of other reasons. For instance, Tessa Wong in a BBC News article talks about how masks can be worn to combat toxins from pollution or simply out of respect for one another—openly sneezing and coughing is seen as rude in East Asia (Wong). Or, as explained in the Time article, it is common for people in Japan to wear masks as a way to stay warm in colder temperatures or to “hide a swollen lip or a red nose during allergy season” (Leung). The face mask does not have to be constantly associated with illness and fatality, but can instead be worn as a useful accessory or as a way to respect other individuals’ personal space. In Eastern countries, the face mask is merely another article of clothing and becomes a part of one’s daily routine. It can be used as a way to stay healthy, but also, for the most part, represents the consideration of one another. Donald Low is cited in the BBC News article for summing up how the face mask symbolizes uniformity and the power it has because of that: “"Putting on a mask every day before you go out is like a ritual, like putting on a uniform, and in ritual behaviour you feel you have to live up to what the uniform stands for, which is more hygienic behaviour like not touching your face or avoiding crowded places and social distancing” (Wong). Like when an actor puts on a costume to play a character, once someone starts to regularly wear a face mask, they begin to take on a specific role. Wearing the mask becomes a habit that leads to better hygiene. When something becomes uniform it also becomes more universal, and in Eastern countries, this signals the way the face mask is more normalized than in Western countries and is hardly ever seen as shocking or unacceptable. A few months ago in New York, Man put her face mask on without thinking much about it, but since it doesn’t match the “uniform” for the United States, she instantly becomes an outcast. On the other hand, if she were to go home to Hong Kong and not wear her mask, she would be an outcast for the exact opposite reason. In one context, the face mask becomes a barrier against poor hygiene, but in another, it becomes, more broadly, a red flag and a cultural barrier.

  If I were writing this paper just a mere few months ago, the difference in wearing a face mask on a daily basis between Eastern and Western cultures would be like night and day. As depicted by Man’s anecdote, the majority of the United States previously rejected the tradition of wearing face masks. Outside of certain professions, the thought of wearing a face mask in public was unfamiliar and essentially unheard of. And due to such ignorance, this narrow-minded point of view often fueled racism and xenophobia. Other individuals have faced similar treatment to what Man went through in the United States, and some critics turn to violence and attack those who choose to wear masks (Wong). Many people who wear masks are abiding by the norms of their own culture yet are discriminated against when it does not align with the culture they currently find themselves in. Jasmine Chia sums it up perfectly in her Thai Enquirer article when she says, “The mask provokes an anxiety of the ‘other’” (Chia). The face mask becomes a symbol of polarization and a disconnect between Western and Eastern cultures. While it is used as a source of comfort in Eastern countries, individuals from Western countries often see a face mask and are taken aback, get defensive, or experience fear and anxiety. The face mask is alarming and creates hysteria or panic. Mitsutoshi Horii, who teaches at Japan’s Shumei University and works in the U.K., recounts a time when Japanese trainee teachers were brought in and “the university explicitly advised them not to wear face masks when teaching at local schools. ‘If they wear masks, the kids could get scared,’ he says” (Leung). The university catered to the culture within the U.K. and worried that face masks could create commotion and fear amongst students. Somehow in Western countries, a tiny piece of cloth had the ability to cause panic and alarm. It symbolized illness, looming danger, and emergency.

  The stigma around face masks in Western cultures existed for some time and caused a divide, but now as the gravity of the coronavirus intensifies, the perception of face masks has started to change and change quickly. The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline in regards to face masks or “face coverings” is as follows: “CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission” (“Recommendation”). Masks have transitioned from being exclusively used in medical professions and other specific careers and has now been extended into the public realm. More and more people are jumping at the opportunity to buy and wear a face mask. Thus, there have been shortages, especially among healthcare workers who need the masks the most while treating patients with the virus. Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, doctors and nurses have reported not having enough face masks to use while working and have encouraged the public to stop hoarding supplies in addition to helping to make masks if they are able. Because of the shortage, more people have stopped buying masks in stores and have found ways to creatively construct their own masks. For one, Nicola turned to her sewing machine to make her own masks. Other individuals turn to social media and demonstrate how they made their own masks out of things like bandanas and hair ties or even out of old socks. People look to each other for tips so that everyone can have their own mask and feel safe when leaving their homes. Gone are the days when the face mask was a sign of alienation. In light of the pandemic, Western cultures have started to adopt the regular use of the face mask and want to help combat the spread of COVID-19. However, I must admit that I question the motives of individuals who don the face mask during this time. Do they wear the mask to protect themselves or to protect others, like Man suggested? From what I’ve seen, I would argue that most people wear masks in a selfishly yet selfless way. Now I can’t speak for everyone, but within my circle of family and friends, the consensus seems to be that wearing the mask is the way to be shielded from the virus when going out into the world. People put on their mask when they are going on an essential errand and fear that if they don’t wear their mask, they’re at risk of catching the coronavirus. It’s less about possibly being asymptomatic and unknowingly spreading the virus themselves; it’s more about avoiding getting the virus from a random stranger. However, I have witnessed some instances where the mask becomes a sign of love towards someone else. Especially in my family, we wear our masks when we go to visit family, more specifically my older grandparents. These are the times when we play with the possibility that we all might be carriers of the virus. Around strangers, people want to place blame on others for spreading the disease, but around family and friends, people are more willing to take responsibility. It seems people are willing to act selflessly but for selfish reasons: they want to protect those around them and the people most important to their own lives. A mask puts distance between you and a stranger but is a sign of compassion to the people you love.

  As the use of face masks has become more widely accepted in all countries during the pandemic, the face mask has also started to become an opportunity for profit and revenue for many companies  and brands. Not only is the mask seen as a utility, but now it has become a fashion statement and has been taken more seriously as an article of clothing. Vogue released an article online called “Cloth Masks to Shop Now” by Sarah Spellings, and in it, she talks about cloth face masks becoming a fashion piece (Spellings). The article provides links to numerous shopping websites where readers can buy the most fashionable and well-designed masks on the market right now. Spellings proposes that because the end of quarantine and the coronavirus as a whole is currently unknown, we might as well have fun with it and allow our masks to be stylish. Etsy has become a popular place to look for more fashionable masks, and “the company disclosed that between April 4 and 6, people searched for masks on the site an average of 9 times per second, totaling more than 2 million searches” (Spellings). People are eager to take this CDC guideline of wearing a mask as an opportunity to spice up their wardrobes. Since the start of the pandemic, Fendi, Collina Strada, Tanya Taylor, St. John, and more have all jumped on board to making the common face mask a form of high-end fashion. Vogue also has an article featuring a designer of Collina Strada named Hillary Taymour who demonstrates how to make a mask at home (Hahn). With her sewing machine and some cloth fabric, Hillary is able to sew a homemade mask in five simple steps, including using an iron to pleat the mask herself. She also gives a tutorial on how to tie dye the mask using natural dyes from organic materials, water, and vinegar (Hahn). This particular Vogue article is supplemented with small video clips of Hillary working on a mask so that viewers can follow along at home. Overall, a dramatic shift has taken place where we went from refusing to ever where a mask in public to now not only complying with national guidelines but allowing the mask to be an art form and a reflection of one’s own style.

  But how prevalent will face masks continue to be following the coronavirus pandemic? The SARS outbreak heavily impacted the way some Eastern cultures treat face masks in their daily lives. Will COVID-19 have a similar impact on cultures worldwide? Will Western cultures start to wear face masks more often outside of the pandemic? In an article by Nicole Bradley, she considers some of these ideas and interviews Jessica Berg, a bioethics professor, who predicts, “It certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing from a public health standpoint for it to be more socially acceptable for people to wear masks…I think there’s still a genuine question about how hard it’s going to be for us, culturally, to accept masks now as not either stigmatizing or even problematic” (Bradley). Berg is hesitant and cannot confidently conjecture that the use of face masks will stick post-pandemic. I completely agree with Berg. From my point of view, it seems like most people are taking COVID-19 seriously and have been following social distances practices well. However, with that said, I’m not sure that people, in Western countries especially, will continue with this dedication following the end of the virus. I would be excited to see face masks becoming more normalized and people being proactive for future illnesses or just for containing minor colds or allergy symptoms. But, realistically, I don’t see this trend sticking. It may be pessimistic of me, but let’s consider a point that Chia makes: “In the 1918 influenza epidemic, the death toll was much higher in Western Europe and the United States than it was in Japan,” but mask wearing still faded away (Chia). Based on the track record, I’m not sure the coronavirus will be any different. Especially in Western cultures, the face masks seems to represent a state of emergency. Even though it is more common today for us to see each other wearing masks, it is still a constant reminder of all the people currently suffering from the virus and the existing fear of more people catching it. The mask gives us a sense of security right now, but once the pandemic slowly tapers off, the mask will represent a dark time. I believe we will want to separate ourselves as much as we can from this time in our lives, forget the past, and move forward without the reminder of what once was. Because I see people’s motives for wearing masks right now as more selfish and for warding off danger, once that danger has subsided, people won’t feel the need to continue to wear them. I think more people need to have a shift in mindset that aligns more with Man’s before Western societies can start to fully do away with the face mask stigma.

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  Two days ago on May 10, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio, my mom came home from the grocery store laughing about a picture she took with her two sisters. They ran into each other while shopping at our local Kroger and decided to stop and take a selfie. My mom and my two aunts all wore their homemade cloth masks with their glasses on and their hoods up. They worry a lot and want to be as safe as possible when going out on errands for our families. When they saw each other in the store they laughed thinking how silly they all looked—this was not the attire they were wearing just a few months ago. They have never worn masks out in public prior to the pandemic, but now they wouldn’t think to leave the house without their masks. And whenever we go somewhere as a family, my mom tells me to bring my mask, and I wear it when we socially distance with other family members. Will I keep my mask and five years down the line continue to wear it outside of the virus? I’m not sure. For now, the face mask is our security blanket during this scary time; it makes us feel like we are doing our part to help flatten the curve. We take pictures of us in our masks to remember this time. Our masks symbolize a crisis we have never faced before, and while they may remind us of bleak circumstances, the face masks also give us hope that by our own choices, we can potentially have some control over how we are affected.

Works Cited

Bradley, Nicole. “Will America Become a Mask Culture? Here's What a Bioethics Expert Had to Say.” Kansas City Magazine, 9 Apr. 2020, www.kansascitymag.com/will-america-become-a-mask-culture-heres-what-a-bioethics-expert-had-to-say/.

Chia, Jasmine. “Meaning behind the Mask; Why the Face Mask Is Promoted in Asia but Shunned in the West " Thai Enquirer.” Thai Enquirer, THAINEWS CORP CO., LTD., 4 Mar. 2020, www.thaienquirer.com/7726/meaning-behind-the-mask-why-the-face-mask-is-promoted-in-asia-but-shunned-in-the-west/.

Hahn, Rachel. “Collina Strada’s Hillary Taymour Shows How to Sew and Tie Dye A Cloth Mask.” Vogue, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2020, www.vogue.com/article/tie-dye-cloth-mask-tutorial-how-to-make-diy.

Leung, Hillary. “Why Face Masks Are Encouraged in Asia, but Shunned in the U.S.” Time, Time, 12 Mar. 2020, time.com/5799964/coronavirus-face-mask-asia-us/.

“Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings.” CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Apr. 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html.

Spellings, Sarah. “Cloth Masks to Shop Now.” Vogue, Vogue, 8 May 2020, www.vogue.com/slideshow/stylish-face-masks-to-shop-now.

Wilson, Mark. “The Untold Origin Story of the N95 Mask.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 30 Mar. 2020, www.fastcompany.com/90479846/the-untold-origin-story-of-the-n95-mask.

Wong, Tessa. “Coronavirus: Why Some Countries Wear Face Masks and Others Don't.” BBC News, BBC, 31 Mar. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-52015486.