Why do some Europeans discriminate against Asians for wearing masks?
The first Hungarian doctor who advocated wearing masks for surgery and the first Polish doctor who advocated handwashing before surgery are notable figures in medical history.
Whether referred to as “COVID-19,” “Wuhan Pneumonia,” “2019 Novel Coronavirus,” or “2019-nCoV,” all these names signify the same virus.
This global phenomenon, known as “Pa Mi ah,” has caused widespread panic. Currently, there are no effective medicines available to combat it.
Although it may still be active, it is fundamentally similar to any other virus.
What concerns experts the most is the impact on the human immune system.
The development of autoimmunity is closely linked to regular healthcare and exercise routines.
An example of an amusing post shared by my child’s coach is reminiscent of this situation:
The phrase “exercise boosts immunity” carries a similar level of importance as the warning label “smoking is harmful to health” on cigarette packaging. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize boosting your immune system.
The practice of wearing masks to prevent the spread of invisible viruses has gained significant importance. This is a common practice in many Asian countries.
Wearing masks serves multiple purposes, including preventing the transmission of viruses like the common cold in crowded areas. In Taiwan, the use of masks originated during the Japanese occupation period, initially for military purposes. In the 1950s, with the development of agriculture, masks were used when spraying pesticides. Additionally, in the 1970s, during the era of motorcycle riders, mask usage became more prevalent.
However, these historical factors are not the primary reasons why wearing masks has become ingrained in Taiwanese living habits.
The image is sourced from the Facebook page of the National Taiwan Museum of History.
Based on Lara’s observations, wearing masks has become a prevalent behavior over the past decade. This is likely due to several factors. Firstly, air pollution has gradually worsened, leading to an increase in respiratory allergies. Secondly, the influence of East Asian culture has made wearing masks more popular. In Japan, for instance, many people wear masks during the pollen season to avoid excessive irritation and sneezing caused by pollen allergies. Additionally, wearing masks is also a preventive measure to avoid transmitting cold germs to others or getting infected oneself. Lastly, some individuals, particularly women, find masks useful when they are short on time to apply makeup. Therefore, masks have become an integral part of daily life, serving purposes related to environmental pollution, virus prevention, and cultural factors.
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The reasons mentioned earlier contribute to the misunderstanding and discrimination faced by many Asians for wearing masks in European and American countries recently.
These reasons are not as prevalent in Europe and the United States. The European concept of the body, in particular, places emphasis on individual resilience and contact with nature. Europeans tend to believe in the importance of regular exercise and relying on their own immunity to combat viral diseases, rather than relying heavily on external interventions such as medications or health products. There is a general belief among Europeans that wearing masks indicates serious illness or is done out of fear of infecting others. Thus, the fundamental idea regarding mask-wearing differs between Asia and Europe.
A few simple examples can illustrate these differences: on television, you are less likely to see an Asian child with visible nasal mucus; Nordic mothers may leave strollers outdoors and let babies nap in cold air, which is a practice uncommon in Asia; German parenting methods, such as the use of leggings for fever reduction, differ from the immediate reliance on clinics for fever-related concerns in Taiwan. While convenience of medical care is a contributing factor, the core difference lies in the underlying values and concepts.
A small incident prompted me to contemplate these core values more deeply.
There are talented illustrators and doctors who have created illustrations to raise awareness about the coronavirus, promote handwashing, and encourage mask-wearing. When Lara first saw these illustrations, she quickly shared them on platforms like Facebook and WeChat Moments. Her intention was to provide a helpful tool for anxious adults to soothe or explain the situation to children. She also considered her foreign friends in Taiwan and Europe who couldn’t read Chinese and wanted to have the illustrations translated into different languages so they could share them too.
However, when Lara shared her idea with a German friend, the friend seriously considered it for two days and ultimately declined the request. The friend explained the reasons for her refusal, which prompted Lara to reflect on the situation and write this article.
Lara understands the efforts of the Taiwanese government in combating the epidemic and acknowledges that wearing masks is a common practice in Taiwan (having lived there for more than two years). However, she believes that children should not be excessively afraid of the coronavirus because the hype surrounding it can cause panic and fear. She believes that handwashing is more important than wearing masks since it is a fundamental principle in combating bacteria and viruses.
Lara realizes that she herself does not wear a mask all the time unless required for activities like teaching or being in crowded places. She has been avoiding crowded areas since Chinese New Year and asks her friends who have returned from abroad to wait 14 days before meeting. She still believes that thorough handwashing is more crucial than constant mask-wearing.
Lara concludes that the decision of whether or not to wear a mask and when to wear it is a personal choice. In the current situation, she believes there is no need to be overly anxious in daily life but also emphasizes the importance of not being careless. She mentions an incident where a man caused a disturbance at the entrance of National Taiwan University Hospital because he refused to wear a mask. Lara deems this behavior inappropriate since hospitals are places where various germs accumulate and people entering and exiting usually have weakened immune systems. She reiterates that decisions should consider people, events, times, places, and circumstances. Regardless, she emphasizes that proper handwashing is a fundamental principle in all cases.
