Robert Freudenthal

“My mask protects you, your mask protects me” is the message that the UK public health authorities and local government have been promoting.

… Proponents of this slogan, despite giving significant meaning to the wearing of masks that bears little relationship to the underlying scientific evidence, have been seemingly unable to consider other ways that masking may be experienced, beyond considering those that choose not to wear masks as being selfish.

Yet of course a cultural shift as dramatic as expecting all adults, and in some cases children, to cover their faces, is likely to cause a whole variety of responses, which may be helpful to reflect on in an attempt to make sense of such a change.