Masks are still being worn by some individuals—but not for health reasons
“Masks provide a certain anonymity in the offline world that makes me feel relatively less concerned about my existence as a woman while navigating crowded markets or using public transport,” she says. Wearing a mask has reduced the frequency of lecherous incidents for her when she’s out in public. It also helps her conceal her emotions should she unexpectedly run into someone she doesn’t want to.
“Before the pandemic, I did not think masks could be used to go incognito like this.”
A remnant of the Covid-19 era, masks are being worn by some individuals not only for health reasons but also for the sake of privacy. The demand for masks has dropped significantly after Covid. A Statista Consumer Market Insights report reveals that in 2021, about 402 billion masks were sold worldwide, compared with an estimated 23 billion in 2023.
However, the 2023 figure is still nearly double the global mask sales of 12.5 billion units in the pre-Covid year of 2019.
Today, masks have inadvertently become a means for some people to hide their identity from people in their social circle, housing society, workplace and the public at large. In other words, masks have given people the ability to ‘turn off the video’ even outside of Zoom calls.
Makeup artist Shruti Kode always wears a mask on the job now. It is not just because of the nature of her work, which requires her to be in close proximity with the client.
“I don’t like to be ‘seen’, especially at work. The mask helps me avoid attention and makes me feel comfortable,” she says. When accompanying a showbiz client on shoots, it is a running joke on the set that the crew will catch a glimpse of her face only at the wrap party; otherwise, her appearance remains a mystery.
THE GOOD MASK
