I was browsing through the products at a drugstore, when the pharmacist asked me what I was looking for. As I explained that I need acne treatment products due to constantly wearing masks, she said that like me and many others, she also experienced the same thing. However, she continued that if her job requires her to take her mask off, she would consider resigning instead. What struck me from her statement was that I, too, have grown more comfortable with wearing masks in public since a few years ago. The situation had me question myself; am I ready to live without masks again? Are we?
Live Without Mask Again
Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck and changed many aspects of our lives, one of the most significant is wearing masks in public. While it may not be welcome for some at first, many have grown accustomed to it as time went on. To some degree, we have become slightly germophobic as we grow more aware that the way we live before COVID might not be as clean as we thought. Washing our hands now happens more often and hand sanitizer is a staple. Even before COVID-19, however, a lot of cultures have already worn masks regularly, particularly in East Asia.
Wearing masks is already common in places like Japan, South Korea, and China, for a multitude of reasons. As a common courtesy, people who feel mildly sick would wear masks in public settings so as to not affect others around them-a habit that is also adapted in other parts of the world. The role of collectivism and consideration for others is taught at a young age in places like Japan, which manifested in everyday life.
Masks are also handy to protect oneself from allergies, particularly to pollen and dust. Come allergy season-particularly in spring-most people with high sensitivity would rely on masks to contain their allergies. Since air quality in big cities can often be poor, face masks also offer protection from everyday pollutants. For those who drive a motorcycle, this is particularly true.
Aside from health reasons, masks also offer a degree of anonymity that I and many others appreciate. For public figures and well-known people, it has been adapted since long for a sense of privacy. At times when you don't feel presentable, face masks also offer a quick fix to the situation. In an age where cameras are everywhere and our lives feel like it's under constant observation, it's a wonder that a simple piece of fabric placed in front of the face can provide a comfortable degree of separation from the world.
Hani, a 24-year-old writer, shared that wearing masks makes her feel more comfortable in public spaces, as it conceals her face from unwanted eyes. "If I walk in public at night in a place where there's a lot of strangers, face masks help me cope with 'men's gaze'", shared Hani. Of course, she is not alone in feeling this way.
For those with social anxiety, masks also help alleviate their anxieties to some degree. With one's face obstructed, it's understood if some social cues and expressions are foregone. What vulnerability we may have in the face of the world are lessened. As I matched the color of my face mask to my outfit every single day, I understood that the comfort it brings is irreplaceable for now.
(alm/DIR)