Since the start of “deconfinement”, it is mandatory to wear a protective mask against the coronavirus in public transport (metro, bus …) as well as in places where “physical distancing rules cannot be guaranteed“(some shops …). But contrary to the recommendations issued by the Academy of Medicine on April 22, the protective mask is not mandatory in all public spaces …
It must be said that, in society, the question of the mask divides. A study jointly conducted by researchers from the University of London (in England) and the University of Berkeley (in the United States) was also interested in the differences between men and women when it comes to wearing a mask. protection against the coronavirus epidemic. The researchers interviewed 2459 people aged 25 to 54.
The protective mask, a “sign of weakness” for some men
Verdict? When wearing a protective mask is not compulsory, men are (on average) less likely than women to spontaneously wear one in public spaces. This finding echoes another study, conducted in the United States in April 2020: during the 7 days preceding the survey, 29% of men said they had “always“wore a mask when leaving their homes, compared to 44% of women.
How to explain this difference between men and women? Two elements must be taken into account, according to the authors of this study : “historically, it has been observed that women are generally more cautious and therefore more sensitive to preventive measures than men, especially in the area of health“. In addition, the psychological aspect should not be neglected:”men, more than women, indeed consider that wearing a mask is a sign of weakness, associated with a feeling of shame and out of date“.
Men are (unfortunately) not spared by Covid-19: thus, men aged 60 and over seem to be more (and harder) affected by the Sars-Cov-2 virus. The figures confirm it: in the United States, twice as many men as women die from Covid-19. In Europe, 69% of deaths caused by the coronavirus have been recorded in male patients. Embarrassing or not, the protective mask is therefore essential!
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