Republicans and Democrats have increasingly polarized views on many issues these days, even when it comes to face masks.
During dramatically trying times such as this, it is no surprise that even a tool as necessary as facial coverings in the midst of a pandemic would also be used to divide the country even more than it already is. The issue of wearing facial coverings has almost automatically become a Democratic vs. Republican debate.
Although data has shown that facial coverings prevent the virus, there are conspiracy theories and many who believe that the government is simply trying to control citizens.
Many Republicans feel that masks are an infringement upon their freedom as citizens and they should not be forced by the government to wear them. In contrast, many Democrats have observed that the science and data serves as proof that wearing face masks is worth it for the nation’s public health to prevent the continued spread of COVID-19.
Unfortunately, the face mask debate is nothing new. The history of the 1918 flu pandemic shows stark similarities between then and now in how people reacted to the idea of wearing a mask for the sake of public health. Interestingly enough, that pandemic also happened around an election year.
Many female suffragists fought against the mask mandate because they felt that “covering their mouths at a time when their voices were crucial” was unacceptable, according to the New York Times. The Scranton Republican published an article in 1918 criticizing the ‘fascination’ of masks.
“Nobody knows why they have such a fascination for them,” the article reads. It may have seemed like a mere fascination to those who did not understand the science behind it.
One would think that in 2020 with the technology and information available, there would be fewer cases of the coronavirus, as well as fewer stubborn acts of ignorance. But whether in 2020 or 1918, it seems as if anything could be twisted into a political issue and in turn divide the country.
What this means for college classes, though, is that facts and data must be taken seriously, Dean Blumberg, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, explained in an interview with UC Davis.
“A range of new research on face coverings shows that the risk of infection to the wearer is decreased by 65 percent,” Blumberg said.
This information is important to keep in mind as we head out on campus, even if it is just going to one in-person class this semester. When friends, classmates, family members or co-workers try to debate and make claims that just do not have factual evidence to back them up, share the data and history about both pandemics in a way that is non-threatening and bipartisan.
There will always be some form of politicization happening in the world around us, but if enough people can change the way they engage with others who disagree, perhaps more individuals can see through the polarizing tactics of politics and focus on making the right choices — not just for themselves, but for the community.
Photo by Tate Walden
Graphic by Lizzy Talbert
