The Social Meanings of Artifacts: Face Masks in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, research has explored various aspects of face mask use. While most of the research explores their effectiveness to prevent the spread of the virus, a growing body of literature has found that using face masks also has social meaning. But what social meaning does it have, and how does this meaning express itself in people's practice? Based on 413 qualitative interviews with residents in five European countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland), we found that the meanings of face masks have changed drastically during the first months of the pandemic. While in spring 2020 people wearing them had to fear stigmatization, in autumn of 2020 not wearing masks was more likely to be stigmatized. Throughout the first year of the pandemic, we found that mask wearing had multiple and partly seemingly contradictory meanings for people. They were perceived as obstacles for non-verbal communication, but also a way to affirm friendships and maintain social contacts. They also signaled specific moral or political stances on the side of face mask wearers and non-wearers alike, expressed their belonging to certain communities, or articulated concern. In sum, our findings show how face masks serve as scripts for people to navigate their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude that public and political discussions concerning face masks should include not only evidence on the epidemiological and infectiological effects of face masks, but also on their social meanings and their social effects.

Lessons from the stigma of COVID-19 survivors: A Marxist criticism appraisal

“…In addition, there are studies showing that public and political attitudes toward masks need to rely more on scientific evidence. Such evidence, in addition to including epidemiological and infectiological information, should also consider its social and personal significance; otherwise, it may harm the interests of marginalized groups ( 48 , 49 ).…”

Facemasks, material and metaphors: An analysis of socio-material dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic

“… Chodosh et al, 2020 ; Czypionka et al, 2020 ; Matuschek et al, 2020a ; Mheidly et al, 2020 ; Peeples, 2020 ; Spitzer, 2020 ; Strasser & Schlich, 2020 ) as well as their symbolic, iconic, national and cultural contexts (e.g. Betsch et al, 2020 ; Goh et al, 2020 ; Labbé et al, 2022 ; Lupton et al, 2021 ; Martinelli et al, 2021 ; Matuschek et al, 2020b ; Schönweitz et al, 2022 ; Tsang & Prost, 2021 ; Van Gorp, 2021 ). While the use of surgical facemasks in urban cultures of Asia was often taken as an example (e.g.…”

“… Hyun et al, 2022 ; Lupton et al, 2021 , p. 10), the use and handling of masks in public seemed to be a novelty in European and Anglo-American regions (e.g. Schönweitz et al, 2022 ).…”

The influence of face mask on social spaces depends on the behavioral immune system

“…Indeed, the social and cultural meaning of face mask, and thereby the way they are perceived, have changed with their use and recommendation over the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, from April to October 2020 face mask progressively switched from "symbol of disease" to "symbol of prevention" (Schönweitz et al, 2022). As most studies were conducted after the first months of the pandemic when face mask already reflected more prevention than disease, it is not surprising they found increased trust toward masked individuals.…”