1.2 Face covering as a social practice
Framed through a sociocultural narrative, face coverings can be seen as an item of clothing (similar to the rest of a person’s attire) or an accessory (similar to wearing sunglasses). Wearing a face covering is a social practice 9, influenced by sociocultural norms that include expectations (e.g. what we expect a shop assistant, bus driver or nurse to be wearing) and cultural traditions (e.g. fashions, trends and symbolic practices). A familiar example in some countries is the handkerchief, which used to be common item carried in your pocket, taught through social norms by family members, and used as a sign of politeness to capture a cough or sneeze in the interest of public cleanliness. In the current global pandemic, there are examples of face coverings adapted to cultural dress. An example from India describes how using a loose end of a piece of clothing, from a saree , or a loose piece of cloth, a ‘dupatta’, has become more commonly used to cover the face during COVID-19. 10
Rather than standardisation, cloth face coverings are usually characterised by personalisation, and a bottom-up approach to manufacturing and distribution. They can be home-made, from an existing piece of clothing like an old T-shirt or purchased from a store for convenience or to match an outfit or display a brand. There are examples of face covers with animal noses, creating a sense of playfulness that may make them more acceptable in a classroom environment. Activists have placed slogans (such as “Black Lives Matter”) on their face coverings, that emphasise their role in displaying identity. Designer labels have produced expensive, high-fashion face coverings. Comfort and sense of style are key material features. A reusable face covering reduces the costs to the person using them and may reduce the pollution associated with a disposable face covering. Commercial manufacture of cloth face coverings can be commissioned on a national level or stimulated by local demand. Sewing co-operatives traditionally benefit women, as demonstrated by face covering production in Thailand and South Africa. Initiatives such as the one described in Box 1 illustrate community partnerships in making and distributing face coverings.