Covid Cowardice
Refusing To Wear Face Masks is Masking a Deeper Fear
One of the terms bandied about lately is “toxic masculinity.” The basic idea is obvious — that some men are so fixated on demonstrating how “manly” they are that they harm themselves and others in the process. I tend to frown on the use of labels, and like most labels, “toxic masculinity” points to something real and serious, but does not illuminate it.
Recently, we’ve seen, mostly in the United States, people, mostly men, refusing to wear face masks. This comes despite the recommendations of many scientists that wearing face masks helps prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This pig-headed obstinate refusal to wear face masks has been attributed to toxic masculinity. That makes sense, but I think refusing to wear face masks, like all displays of toxic masculinity, are masking a deeper fear.
Why would someone refuse to help others by wearing a face mask? For most, if not all, of these people, it is a fear of appearing to be weak. I think it’s a combination of not wanting to appear to be afraid of the virus, not wanting to be seen to be dictated to by others, and not wanting to be seen heeding other people’s concerns. The many comments on social media by these mask averse people tend to relate to one of these three fears.
