Masked Messages
Growing up in Asia, I was so accustomed to seeing people wearing face masks. When I moved to the United States the realization that people didn’t wear them was one of the many things that shocked me, however I never thought to question why this was.
I vividly remember the first time I caught the flu in the US, in order to keep those around me safe I quickly started wearing a greenish blue surgical mask that I brought with me from Indonesia (I packed many). When heading out to the doctor's office my mother instructed me to take off my mask. My mother said that here in the US people would look at me strangely and think there was something seriously wrong with me if they were to see me in both my mask and my wheelchair. I thought this was nonsense decided to ignore my mom, I really wish I hadn’t.
Whist wheeling to the doctors I was met with stares, frowns and people jerking themselves out of my way with puzzled looks on their faces. When I entered the doctors office I found that I was the only one in the waiting room wearing a mask. I couldn’t comprehend why those who were sneezing or coughing were not being proactive in stoping the spread of their germs by wearing a mask. I was equally as confused as to why those who were simply in the doctors office for a check up were not wearing one to protect themselves from getting sick.
As I positioned myself in the seating area and locked my wheels in place, I felt this uncomfortable feeling as my fellow patients were giving my quick glances or side eyes as they checked their cellphones. I slowly removed my mask placing it in my Ul:kin clutch and never wore one out in public again.
Fast-forward three years, and we are now in the middle of a global pandemic. I decided that I no longer cared about what people thought. As a chronic asthmatic my health as well as the health of my mother are my top priorities. I would rather do what I have been taught in order to prevent myself or those around me from contracting COVID-19, in other words, I would rather be safe than sorry later down the line.
In Asia, we wear masks for three main reasons. To prevent others from getting sick when we are sick, to prevent exposing ourselves to viruses or germs and to lessen the risk of getting sick from pollution.
There are different types of masks to be worn depending on circumstances. The mask I am wearing in this post is called the Pitta mask, a mask that has become quite the popular fashion accessory among my fellow millennials across Asia. However, the Pitta mask has been proven to be rather ineffective in stopping on contracting virus such as COVID-19 as it is more for pollution and preventing the spread of germs.
I am not a doctor but having lived in Manila during SARS, Beijing during H1N1 (swine flu) and Jakarta during MERS, I am aware that the mask that has proven most effective is the N95 mask. According to The United State’s FDA website “N95 respirators and surgical masks (face masks) are examples of personal protective equipment that are used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and from liquid contaminating the face. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also regulate N95 respirators.”
Despite this, the FDA also states “The CDC does not recommend that the general public wear N95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including coronavirus (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus”.
According to an article written by the New York Times “part of the reason organizations such as the CDC are putting out such information is to” preserve medical-grade masks, including N95 respirator masks, for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply.”
Recently I have seen more and more western people wearing face masks while outside to keep themselves safe. I am hopeful that after this COVID-19 crisis ends more people in the West will be more understanding of the reasons in which why people from Asia wear masks. People should realize that we are not only wearing masks for our own protection but also for the protection of the community.
POST DETAILS:
Written by: Jourdie
Photographed by: Jennie Magee
Sweater by: Ul:kin
Disclaimer: All images were photographed pre social distancing / stay at home orders.
CITATIONS:
N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks (face Masks)
Center for Devices and Radiological Health - https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-and-surgical-masks-face-masks
White House Debates How Far to Go on Face Mask Guidelines. (2020, April 2). Retrieved April 2, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/world/coronavirus-live-news-updates.html