This article looks the differential adoption of mask across the globe. Generally, while successful adoption of masks in most Asian societies reflect culturally embedded values of civic obedience, obligations and duty - a language of obligations; In the ‘west’ the resistance to its mandatory enforcement is seen as an infringement into personal autonomy and freedom - a language of rights, one that requires protection.
While it is difficult to pin down the real origin, masks have played an integral part in the making and structuring of social norms, cultures and rituals. Over centuries we have witnessed the purpose and role of masks evolve. An object of disguise during the early hunting and gathering period, masks became a spiritual symbol for the Pegan believer and an artifact of performance and entertainment in contemporary plays.
In all of the above, the mask has allowed the wearer to temporarily detach themselves from their sense of identity and transform into a totally different character or persona.
Recent times saw the metamorphosis of masks from an object of disguise, religiosity or performance to a symbol of political and social movements, allowing individuals to participate in collective while maintaining anonymity. The emergence of the black bloc during protests against corporate globalization and the rise of Anonymous during the Occupy movement are some events that demonstrate the significance of face masks as key symbol and tool in protests1
In the medical arena, face masks find its roots in the Spanish Influenza, an instrument of protection, an armor guarding against deadly viruses.
Today, masks have become a mandatory accessory that every individual is required to wear in public sphere, just like clothes. One can choose the design, pattern and colour of the mask they wish to adorn, but it has to be worn by both the sick and the healthy, by medical professional as well as the common man on the street, alike.
In the Covid-19 era, masks are not just a shield protecting against a deadly virus, but is also becoming a threat to individuality and self-expression
Across the globe, owing to historical and cultural differences, countries have reacted differently to this threat to individuality – while some cultures were able to comply and acquiesce to this new normal easily, others found its acceptance difficult due to historical baggage, vanity or fear of loss of distinctiveness.
Looking into the assimilation journey of masks in China, adoption of masks to protect against diseases and chemical warfare can be trace back to the Manchurian Plague in 1910.
Since then, masks have come to signify the idea of collective wellbeing by protecting self from others, and others from self.
Rooted in the Confucian teachings that individual status is determined through ‘one’s unity (or harmony) with external authorities of power’3, the idea of collective wellbeing is integrated within the understanding that ‘every individual is an element within a larger familial, social and political whole” 3
So, when the pandemic hit the nation, the Chinese authorities adopted a narrative known to bring out the collective amongst its people. A war was declared on COVID – 19, and the public was termed as “the most beautiful countermarching people (最美逆行者） who fight at the “frontline”. A sense of solidarity was formed. The entire nation was mobilized to follow the voice of authority and work in unity with government’s advice 4
The impact of such messaging not only ensured quick adoption of masks amongst masses, but also helped in asking people to choose their masks responsibly and morally – leave surgical masks and respirators for health works and choose disposable facemasks for everyday self-protection
Much like China, in Singapore the onus fell onto the state to push for nationwide behaviour change. A swathe of public messaging was released emphasizing that one could only be ‘safe’ through engaging in hygiene practices like maintaining personal hygiene, location-based cleanliness and following social distancing.
As the nation’s lock down began, a new ruling made it mandatory for anyone stepping out of the house to wear a mask. Fines were put in place, with $300 for first-time offenders to $1,000 for repeat offenders.5Just two days after the regulation was passed, 150 people had already been fined for non-compliance.
However, the motivation to adhere to the act of masking up in Singapore does not just simply stem from the fear of fines.
Cases which stood out – of those refusing to wear masks and abuse public officers tasked to enforce masking up and social distancing were highlighted prominently across national media and social media by ‘citizen journalists’8,
abuse of public officers tasked to enforce masking up and social distancing
A small multi ethnic country, the urban city state operates like a large community, where every individual feels morally obliged to invigilate the community and ensure harmonious stable relationship amongst individuals7. Such monitoring inculcated a desire to be seen as a team player who is fulfilling civic duty by calling out unacceptable behaviour
This comes through in the language used by ministers and peers alike in shaming social deviants who don’t mask up.
Words like “imposing a medical burden” from the Minister of Home Affairs, media headlines such as “woman arrested for assault, public nuisance, not wearing mask”6, to public posters pleading masses to “Do the right thing” – underlining the significant role that public shaming and fear of loss of face has played in reinforcing behavior change and adoption of masks
To sum it up, in Asian countries like China and Singapore, ‘people wore masks not only to fend off diseases but also to symbolize a sense of shared fate, mutual obligation and civic duty expected of each individual’ - Peter Baehr9
The western narrative on masks is very different. With media headlines such as “'I will be not be masked, tested, tracked or poisoned” 10, masks are viewed with suspicion and mistrust.
The skepticism to adopt masks can be traced back the founding principles of occidental culture. The western civilization prospered on the fundamental idea of liberty and freedom, advocating that interests of the individual should be given precedence over the state or a social group 13
Every person in western country is thus primed to become self-reliant, valuing beliefs around personal freedom, independence and success. Relationships with others is built on attitudes such as exchange, cooperation or competition12
The state and law treats every individual as an autonomous body – defending their right to express self at free will. This impacts the nature of relationship between citizen and government – while the citizens feel it is the responsibility of the government to protect them, unimpeded; the government, set up to protect personal freedom, commands no control over individual actions.
Thus, in countries like the UK and US, where majority of the population is detached from community and civic responsibility, the decision to wear a mark or not depends on personal comfort and judgement
As quoted in The Guardian … Dr. Simon Kolstoe said “My feeling is that this is becoming more of a (personal) statement. By going out and wearing a face mask you show that you are taking action, you show other people you are concerned about this, you are concerned about them, you are concerned about yourself. But perhaps conversely by not wearing a face mask that is also a statement as well” 14
The conversation on mask in the west has digressed from masks are shields that protect from virus, and has become a symbol that threats personal liberty, self-expression, freedom, economic advancement, political alliance etc.
Acceptance of masks is perceived as a sign of submissiveness, passivity and weakness – codes that contradict every guiding principle of an individualistic society
Recent UK protests where hundreds of anti-mask activists marched to London's Hyde Park to protest the mandatory use of face coverings in shops10 is an initial example of how a humble mask in the east is perceived as a threat to personal expression in the west
Thus, adoption of masks may be more territorial in nature than we expected.
While collective societies find it easy to assimilate this new behaviour in their everyday activities by looking at it as an act of benevolence and goodwill , individualistic societies see is as a hinderance to expression of self and distinctiveness
In either scenario, it is a readily accepted conclusion that masks will continue to be a mainstay as the virus continues to mutate and spread. And the future of masks will differ basis the configuration of the society
Long term use of masks in collective societies is bound to alter the way people express and communicate with each other. With part of the face constantly covered, dependence on non-verbal cues to gauge a person’s mood, state of mind and emotions will reduce. Newer vocabularies and greater reliance on instant messages, emojis and stickers will emerge
In more individualistic societies on the other hand, a new narrative will need to be adopted – one that allows individuals to maintain their unique identity and differentiate themselves in a collective set up.
Such communities will need to find an indigenous way to allow masks to become more customizable and personalized so that it can become an extension of each person’s identity, character and personality. Masks to allow individuals to communicate their personal and social identities through this evolving personal (necessary) accessory.
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1. https://socialistproject.ca/2020/06/the-politics-of-the-mask/
2. https://www.jstor.org/preview-page/10.2307/590891?seq=1 - Truth and Goodness, Mirrors and Masks -- Part I: A Sociology of Beauty and the Face
3. https://www.iep.utm.edu/ind-chin/
4. http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1005613/trust-in-science-saved-china.-practicing-it-will-keep-it-safe
5. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-singapore-masks-going-out-law-12643120
6. https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/sovereign-woman-arrested-assault-public-nuisance-not-wearing-mask-shunfu-mart
7. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/singaporean-culture/singaporean-culture-core-concepts
8. https://wishcrys.com/2018/09/23/public-shaming-peer-surveillance-and-the-profitability-of-internet-drama/
9. Peter Baehr (2008)City under Siege: Authoritarian Toleration, Mask Culture,
and the SARS Crisis in Hong Kong
10 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8538465/Hundreds-anti-mask-activists-march-Londons-Hyde-Park-wearing-plague-doctor-costumes.html
11 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170118-how-east-and-west-think-in-profoundly-different-ways
12 http://www.eurasianaffairs.net/western-individualism-versus-the-eastern-spirit-of-community/
13 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individualism#cite_note-ReferenceA-6
14. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/21/face-mask-rules-more-political-than-scientific-says-expert
16 https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/6/8/21279725/masks-face-psychology