Have Masks Turned into Something Bigger than Health? The Emergence of “Mask-curities”
Photo by Shutterstock
As COVID guidelines decrease, many schools are lifting their year-long mask mandates. However, something strange seems to be happening that continues to puzzle teachers and administrators- although students fully understand that the threat of contracting COVID-19 has nearly diminished, they still prefer to keep their masks on. In a recent survey given to a public school in New Orleans, Louisiana, the data showed that only 2 out of 10 students were comfortable taking off their masks in the classroom. If COVID numbers are low, what is preventing these students from de-masking?
COVID has ingrained itself into our society and our culture, and that does not come without consequences. Some teenagers have a fear of shedding their masks to reveal their faces because of a new fear of “mask-fishing.” “Mask-fishing",” for the few that are not caught up, is the act of concealing what you look like under your mask so that others perceive you as more attractive. 93% of teens surveyed agreed that they were scared of being seen as a “mask-fish” when the mandate ended; they did not want people to think that they were less attractive than what people have imagined in their minds. This concept is extremely harmful, acting as a huge hindrance to going back to “normal.” It stops teachers from being able to see their students’ reactions and creates an emotional wall between teacher and student.
As well as “mask-fishing,” “mask-curities” have also emerged. A play on words from the word insecurities, “mask-curities” describe the concept of using a mask to hide your insecurities about your face. Unfortunately, 77% of teens reported being unwilling to take off their masks because of insecurity without it. They use their masks to cover up acne, dry skin, and other things- untimely using them as a crutch. “I don’t want people to see my face,” one student reported. “I’ll take off my mask when my acne goes away.” 85% of teens reported the fear of judgment, 54% reported the fear of assumptions made about them, and 62% reported enjoying the privacy of the mask when asked why they were uncomfortable taking off their masks. However, 18% of teens did report that they only keep their masks on for health reasons.
How will this affect our future generations? Will the teens of this era grow up more insecure, more unwilling to open up, because of being masked through their teen years? Are they missing out on an essential time of emotional connection by refusing to “unmask?” Parents say yes.
Soul Talk Magazine also surveyed parents along with their children. 64% of the parents surveyed claimed that they were worried about the insecurities developed from the masks and the results from the students’ data. “It’s almost as if an entire generation has been traumatized. I can’t imagine being so insecure I can’t even show my face,” one parent reported. Although masks have been an incredible tool in slowing down the COVID pandemic, the time for them is reaching an end. Most places have lifted their mask mandates and still enjoyed low COVID numbers. At the school that was surveyed, the COVID positivity rate has been consistently 0% for the past few weeks. Teens need to understand that the mask can only be used temporarily, and spreading terms around like “mask-fishing” and “mask-curities” is only harmful to their communities. Masks are needed for health; they are not made for integration into society and its norms.