The Politics of Wearing a Mask: Exploring the Racial Dimension in the Fight Against COVID-19

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One university’s ongoing research is providing valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic that can significantly improve the lives of Americans. UNM’s Center for Social Policy (CSP) has been at the forefront of this effort.

Director of CSP, Gabriel Sanchez, and Ph.D. candidate Melanie Sayuri Dominguez, have recently published groundbreaking research in Political Science Quarterly that explores important findings related to the wearing of masks, race, and politics. The research findings highlight the impact of the pandemic on individuals’ willingness to wear masks, particularly based on the color of their skin, and their emotional experiences during this time.

The fast-paced enforcement of mask-wearing protocols led to widespread violence and resistance. To gain a better understanding of this phenomenon, Sanchez, together with ASU Researcher Edward Vargas, funded a panel study that collected real-time data from a diverse group of individuals over several months.

Incorporating the perspective of the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests that ensued, the research team evaluated the challenges faced by Black and Hispanic men in deciding whether to wear masks given the high rates of excessive force experiences among these groups.

“As men of color leading this study, we were able to bring our unique experiences with law enforcement into our research, which brought a valuable and relevant perspective to our findings,” noted Sanchez.

The study, which engaged eight hundred participants across four different areas, provided crucial insights into the politics of mask-wearing during the pandemic. To delve deeper into this groundbreaking research, you can access the full article here. Read More

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