Cultural Influence on choice of Masks
Ever thought that culture could influence the type of mask that wear? Well, I have.
I live in the Netherlands, but I recently returned from a trip to India. One of the things I observed was that people in India were wearing reusable cloth masks. On the other hand, disposable surgical masks are commoner in the Netherlands. I thought this was interesting and came up with a few theories why this might be the case.
Indians are accustomed to exclusivity:
It is much more likely that you will find someone who has the same clothes as you in the Netherlands than it is in India. That is especially remarkable considering the difference in population. A huge segment of the market in the Netherlands buys from the same set of stores. This is not true for India. Shopping in local, smaller stores is customary. The range in clothing is also wider. From normal western clothes such as jeans, tops, skirts, etc. to different traditional Indian clothes and somewhere in between, a mix of the two. Therefore, people are accustomed to having more choices in clothing.
The same applies to masks. People prefer a choice. You can have three different masks and decide which to wear depending on what matches. Rather early on, the Indian market started selling masks with dresses. These were made from the leftover cloth of the dress and therefore matched exactly. Due to the standardization in chain stores around Europe, making changes takes longer as more units of the same product must be made. European stores were not able to adapt in the same way. Some of them might have even considered it below them to sell masks. Although, this unique combination of matching top and mask made a lot of sales.
On the other spectrum of having choices, there are also people who prefer to not have to think about their mask. If you have a cloth mask, like a regular jacket, you just put it on before leaving the house. A cloth mask can used again and again and again. You do not have to worry about when to wear a different mask or throwing away your old one. A cloth mask also folds easier than a disposable mask. Meanwhile in the Netherlands people are used to comparable products. The variety here is black, blue, or pink surgical masks. N95s for example are not seen that frequently even though they are disposable as well.
The efficiency of the masks:
In the initial stages of the pandemic, India had a country-wide hard lockdown. This meant you were not allowed to leave your house except for essential things. Going on drives or walks for example was not allowed. Schools were completely online for about two years. The Netherlands did not restrict its residents to this extent. Schools were also open depending on the rate of infection. Here, people were also less frustrated in comparison.
The frustration meant people in India just wanted to be outside. If wearing a mask was what gets them the ticket to roam outside, so be it. While masks have never been compulsory for the outdoor in the Netherlands, it was more of a choice. Those who made the choice were worried enough to consider which ones provide better protection. Hence one place focused on the effectiveness of the mask, while the other just focused on a mask. A lot of people in India even repurposed scarves or general mouth covers as masks, which were previously used against pollution.
People in the Netherlands are also more accustomed to the protection of the law. If a mask was not effective, a Dutch person would go back to the shop and demand to be treated right. On the other hand, an Indian would just think they should have known better or not consider going back to the shop worth the effort. Due to this factor, the shops in the different countries might have chosen the type of mask they sell.
Stage of the pandemic and specific conditions:
As mentioned before, India went through a hard lockdown, with multiple extensions and much more restrictions after the lockdown ended. On the other hand, the Netherlands had more distinct waves, oscillating between a lockdown to everything being almost back to normal. Every time things start opening up, there is a sense of hope in the Netherlands, that this is the time when everything goes back to normal. A cloth mask feels like something long-term, whereas a disposable mask feels temporary.
Indians got used to the extensions and also saw extreme load on the healthcare system. They accepted masks as a part of life. I noticed the difference in my own attitude while being in these places. While in India I never left my mask at home. This also had to do with local rules. Some housing associations made it mandatory to wear a mask even if you are just walking around your own apartment or area. In the Netherlands, I think about where I want to go, and depending on that I would make the choice of taking a mask or not. For example, I will not take a mask if I just go on a walk. It is not busy on the footpath and very easy to keep distance. Sometimes, I actually forget my mask when I need it and have to rush back home or improvise with whatever I have.
Another difference is, Indians have started double masking. They wear two masks. Hence even if one cloth mask is not as effective, there are two. Sometimes an inner one is worn for protection and an outer one for aesthetics.
All of this is just a generalization and does not apply to everyone. Additionally, these are just my own theories, which can be easily disapproved. There is nothing scientific about any of this. There could be many other reasons as well, or just as simple as the availability of masks. Basically, this is just me trying to make sense of or maybe overthink an observation.