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.