Mask Stereotypes

Graphic: S. Goodwin

by AIDEN PRESTON & ETHAN GREMEL staff writers What does your mask say about you?

Gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, and more. All of these public places have had to mandate mask wearing in their facilities due to the coronavirus. The virus is one of the most covered things in mainstream media, and has completely taken over everything. Every conversation seems to bring up one of the viruses’ many annoyances, whether it’s the three month long quarantine, how COVID-19 has affected every kind of business, or about the newest trend in fashion: the mask. At this point, living under a rock is the only way to have avoided wearing a mask at some point in the past few months. There’s a wide assortment of different types and styles of masks, and not surprisingly, the type of mask a person wears can say a lot about them. The basic paper surgical mask is by far the most common variety. Paper mask users don’t care about accessorizing with their mask. These masks aren’t very high quality, comfortable, or long-lasting, and can only be worn once or twice before heading to the trash. These are the most pocket-friendly, a large reason why they are so common. In March, when the whole pandemic started getting serious in the US, masks were incredibly hard to find. Central students often have to pick up paper masks on their way in the building if they forget them. People who wear this mask generally don’t care about matching their outfits with a mask, don’t go out much, or just feel that using a new one is better and easier than having to wash and reuse. The second most popular type of mask is the cloth mask. The cloth mask is recommended to be washed after daily use. This type of mask isn’t anything special; it is just there to get someone through their day. The cloth masks have one very big factor that sets them apart from paper masks: they are reusable. Instead of dumping money into paper masks, two or three of these can be cycled throughout a week as long as they are washed. Cloth masks aren’t all sunshine and rainbows though; they are constantly rubbing against the user’s face, and because of their material they can be very irritating. Despite the inconveniences, the cloth mask is so convenient to own that many people can look past the discomfort. Those who use cloth masks are just trying to go back to normal and making the most out of their situation. They don’t like masks, but they understand why they have to wear them. Some have taken it upon themselves to make a

unique, custom mask themselves. At the beginning of quarantine, supplies and masks as a whole were scarce. Homemade masks illustrate a lot about a person and what that person is into. Custom made masks are either super creative and stylish masks, or don’t work or turn out very well. Homemade masks have the most potential to look good because the creator gets to decide exactly how the mask looks. Stereotypically, homemade mask wearers are very crafty or had their masks gifted to them by a crafty friend or relative. The KN95 mask is the most user-friendly mask. They are designed to stick to the outside of faces to provide maximum comfort and avoid face touching. These masks aren’t very common despite being designed to comfort the user. KN95 masks are also relatively soft and good for easily irritated skin. The KN95 mask is based off of the N95 mask, but is targeted more towards day to day life compared to the N95. This type of mask is for people who are looking for a perfect medium between the cloth and paper. These people just want to be comfortable, cheap, and social at the same time. Another typical type of mask are branded masks. These are common almost everywhere.“I thought it

would be more hygienic to have a new [mask] every day of the week, and they also look pretty cool,” noted Central student Syrys Smith ‘24. Every day of in-person school, Smith has entered the building wearing one of his branded masks. In many cases, people can purchase masks from their favorite movie franchise, video game series, sports team, or anything that interests them. Some even buy branded masks just because they look better than the boring, solid-color masks. People who use branded masks see the whole mask situation as a way to be funny or uniquely express themselves, but they also feel that the mask situation is here to stay for a while. For Smith, this was an opportunity to express himself with special masks. “My mom showed me them on a website and I said ‘those look sick.’” Smith is collecting Spongebob Squarepants masks, with his goal being to collect at least one mask for every character. It does not matter if you have the most basic of masks or an intricate branded mask, you cannot escape stereotyping. The masks are to protect you and others, but it is also a way to express yourself. Whether it’s about the price, style, or look of the mask, everyone’s mask says a little bit about them. //