Wearing Masks: A Phenomenon in East Asia - Research Paper

Introduction

It is prevalent to see people in the streets wearing surgical masks. Wearing masks is a common phenomenon in countries of East Asia, including Hong Kong. The practice started after the outbreak of SARS in 2002, and became entrenched in the people's culture in 2006, during the bird flu pandemic. Asian immigrants living in the USA, practice the same (Chee-kiong & Kwok-bun, 2001). Now with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and the recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning wearing masks as a preventive measure against the infection, the practice of wearing surgical masks is at its peak worldwide. There is an increase in the demand for face masks globally. As per the WHO status report on the spread of Corona Virus, patients have tested positive in several countries globally, with Italy, China, and South Korea being the worst-hit countries. Consequently, wearing surgical masks in public is currently being practiced in several countries worldwide.

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Before the outbreak of the coronavirus, masks were a common phenomenon in East Asia. In Hong Kong, it is considered fashionable, and it is common to find people wearing them and walking around town. However, the reason behind this culture is as a result of the hard lessons learned when SARS broke out in 2002, and bird flu in 2006(Leung, 2004). Hong Kong is a densely populated city. Leung (2004) notes that, as a result of the high population, infectious diseases tend to spread quickly. It got observed with both the SARS and Avian Flu. The residents of Hong Kong have an increased awareness of where germs are concerned. When a person living in Hong Kong catches a cold or flu, their first response is to put on a face mask. The aim is to stop the disease from spreading and taking caution if they are suffering from something more worrying than a little cold (Leung,2004).

The tradition of wearing masks has an earlier origin in Asia. It can be traced back to 1918 when there was an outbreak of influenza that claimed the lives of between 50 to 100 million people around the world (Chee-kiong, & Kwok-bun, 2001). A total of 500 million got infected with the disease. In response to the infection, people started to cover their faces with veils, scarves, and masks in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading (van der Sande, 2008).

Another explanation fronted for this phenomenon is the Kanto Earthquake of 1923. As a result of the earthquake, ash and smoke filled the air in Japan for several weeks. It forced the Japanese citizens into wearing masks to aid in their breathing. Later on, as a result of the industrial revolution, air pollution occurred (MacIntyre& Chughtai, 2015). The air turned toxic and dangerous to human life. People started to wear a mask to assist them in breathing through the poisonous air. Since the onset of the industrial revolution, face masks have been donned. They have found their way into being associated with the culture of the people living in Asia. It is common in densely populated cities where the polluted air makes breathing difficult. More so, the people living in cities are in constant fear of the spread of infectious diseases (MacIntyre& Chughtai, 2015). Presently, Hong Kong consumers purchase $ 230 million worth of surgical masks annually, and their neighbor counter faced with almost similar chronic air pollution issues, notably China and Japan, practice the same. Air pollution is a global menace, so why is the culture of wearing face makes deeply rooted in Hong Kong?

The underlying factor could be philosophical. Hong Kong has been influenced by the health precepts of traditional medicine as well as by Taoism (MacIntyre& Chughtai, 2015). Breathing and breath get seen as the primary element and determinant of good health. Of importance to note is that in Hong Kong, the inclination towards covering of faces gets associated with prevention from exposure to harmful air. (MacIntyre& Chughtai, 2015) . It is a practice that agrees with the germ theory of disease and is traceable to the core of Hong Kong's culture. However, in the contemporary age, the wearing of masks is rooted in postmodern and new rationales.

Studies have revealed that among the young citizens of Hong Kong, masks have revolutionized into social firewalls. Teenagers in perfect health wear them together with audio headsets. It denotes a lack of interest in communicating with the people around them. It is especially true among young women who are keen on avoiding harassment during public transit. Also, it gets seen as an appreciation of anonymity that the masks successfully provide.

Additionally, masks have transitioned to an element of style in Hong Kong. Surgical masks that bear images of notable licensed characters and chic designs are purchased overwhelmingly. Notably, a Hong Kong designer, Movana Cheng, recently unveiled a line concerned with smog couture. Clothes get paired with a variety of masks. They are ranging from riot gear breathers and vadersque ventilators.

In recent times, Hong Kong went into chaos after the anti-mask bill got passed into law. Several protesters thronged the streets of Hong Kong donning face masks to protest against the ban of face masks. The high court of Hong Kong heard a challenge to the law, as filed by democracy lawmakers. They critiqued how the bill got enforced by the president's use of emergency powers (Ma, 2005). An injunction to stop the ban immediately got denied. A judicial review got scheduled to happen towards the end of October to review this matter. It is a demonstration of how deeply entrenched the culture of wearing face masks is among the people of Hong Kong (Ma, 2005).

In 1975, Italy passed a law that strictly forbids the wearing of attires that can hide a person's face. If a person gets found wearing a face mask, they risk imprisonment and hefty fines (Winet, 2012). The reason behind the anti-mask law was to deter criminal activities and terrorism that were on the rise. The law makes exemptions for justified cases. It got interpreted to include religious reasons for wearing veils (Winet, 2012).

Wearing masks in Europe has a long history associated with the protection of a wearer's identity as they engage in a decadent activity. These masks were made out of paper-Mache and heavily decorated with fabric, fur, feathers, or gems (Gobel et al., 2019). These masks finally emerged and were associated with a street fair that celebrated hedonism. These masks, commonly referred to as Venetian Masks, were widely worn in Italy and Venice. The costumes played an essential role in making all the citizens equal during social functions and gatherings (Gobel et al., 2019). State spies and inquisitors questioned citizens without the fear of their identities getting revealed to the members of the general public. The people's morale was also maintained when the masks were worn. For, without identification, everyone could speak up (Gobel et al., 2019).

Gobel et al., (2019) observes that people started taking advantage of the concealment of identity. As a result, sexual promiscuity and became acceptable. Gambling became a common phenomenon in the houses and streets, including convents. Monks and nuns dressed and bejeweled in contemporary fashions, put on their masks, and engaged in homosexuality and sexual promiscuity (Gobel et al., 2019). As a result, Europe fell into a pathetic state of idleness, luxury, and moral decay. The country got forced to ban the wearing of masks in daily routine life. It was limited to specific months of the year. The culture of decadents passed on from the early days to modern-day Europe. In Italy, a report on the structure of organized crimes in the country revealed that the concepts and patterns of most gang-related activities are involved with the wearing of masks (Fijanaut & Paoli, 2007). Known gangs such as the Steppe Devils, Black Masks, White Marks, and Medics terrorize the city by using masks to conceal the identities of the gang members (Paoli, 2004).

The reason behind the practice of wearing masks between Hong Kong and Italy are diverse. In Hong Kong, a history of repeated air pollution and dangerous airborne diseases have made the citizens weary of germs. They wear masks to protect themselves from acquiring hazardous conditions. While others did so when ill out of the kind-hearted nature of trying not to spread the disease around, it is, however, transitioning into a fashion statement, and more youths involved with the practice seek their privacy and anonymity. In contrast, they are the reason for the face masks in Europe, especially Italy. Crime has taken center stage since the earlier days in Rome. The use of masks makes it difficult to root out the vice and identifying the participants. Wearing masks in this part of the world has a negative connotation associated with gang activities.

References

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