Mask Refusal Backlash: The Politicization of Face Masks in the American Public Sphere During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/237x6
• Publication Date: 2021-10-29T23:09:22Z
• Authors: Caleb Scoville; Andrew McCumber; Razvan Amironesei; June Jeon
• Keywords: Pandemic

This research shows how face masks took on discursive political significance during the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic in United States. We argue that divisions over cannot be understood by looking to partisan differences mask wearing behaviors alone. Instead, we show became a symbol enrolled into patterns affective polarization. study relies qualitative and computational analyses opinion articles (n = 7,970), supplemental Twitter data, transcripts major news networks, longitudinal survey data. First, anti-mask discourse was consistently marginal, backlash against refusal came prominence did not decline even as masking normalized partly depolarized. Second, refusal—rather than itself—was primary way were discussed relation national electoral, governmental, themes.