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Social Life of Masks: Experience From Bangladesh

online resource
posted on 2024-09-05, 21:28 authored by Shahaduz Zaman, Imran Matin, Tanvir Shatil, Faruq Hossain
The framework of masks’ social life is critical in numerous ways to understanding people’s behaviour concerning public health issues by providing a nuanced understanding of the use of masks in the community from a multi-dimensional socio-cultural perspective. This explores people’s attitudes towards public health measures, current practices, and the barriers to following them. This study aims to conduct explorative research to obtain a deeper understanding of the performance of masks as a material in society. It focuses on (a) how masks acquire meanings in different contexts throughout their lifetime and (b) how masks affect people’s behaviour in society. Two communities, namely Shibganj Upazila from Chapainawabganj District and Bhaluka Upazila from Mymensingh District, were selected for data collection. The anthropological study uses a set of qualitative techniques, including observation, in-depth interviews (35), key informant interviews (24), focus group discussions (15), and testimonies on masks (20) to collect data. The study finds the framework of “social life of things” useful in many ways to deeply understand different local dynamics and contexts related to mask use in Bangladesh. For example, the study finds that people are not merely concerned with the compliance or non-compliance with masks but also concerned with many other attributes of masks, such as fabric, colour, design, fashion, and the quality of the mask, since masks are associated with people’s social lives in various ways. Moreover, the study uncovered some ways of promoting mask use in public spaces. This includes providing free masks; delivering messages on mask-wearing in various ways, both verbally and using HBCC materials, and engaging local elites in mask-promoting activities.

Funding

Default funder

History

Publisher

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development

Citation

Zaman, S.; Matin, I.; Shatil, T. and Hossain, F. (2022) Social Life of Masks: Experience From Bangladesh, Research Brief, Dhaka: BRAC Institute of Governance and Development

Series

BIGD Research Brief 12

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

IDS Item Types

Other

Copyright holder

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development

Country

Bangladesh

Language

en

Project identifier

GV/20008 CLEAR::5dfe2ceb-a69e-44d8-9dbb-809dc0332f7d::600

Usage metrics

    CLEAR Bangladesh

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