Anti-masker
Anti-masker is a derogatory term used to suppress, if not eradicate, criticisms of and/or opposition to COVID-19 face mask mandates.
An ideological tool of political correctness and an argued form of Orwellian Newspeak, it is frequently used by the mainstream media and the skeptical movement, and may effectively enforce censorship by smearing critics with accusations of mental illness.
Origins and definition
The epithet began appearing on social media early in 2020, coinciding with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The word is influenced by, shares similarities with, and is often used analogously with anti-vaxxer, a disparaging term for people who distrust or oppose vaccinations.[1]
During the pandemic, public health officials have advised people to wear masks in public places and gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The majority of governments have issued mandatory mask mandates in response. However, many people refused to wear masks, and wearing them became a politicized subject. Some people were skeptical that masks work and believe the risks of COVID-19 have been overblown. Others rejected masks as an exercise of civil liberties.
Opposition to masks was notably exacerbated by former President of the United States, Donald Trump, who publicly downplayed the purported dangers of the virus and undermined the necessity and effectiveness of masks, despite wearing one himself on some occasions.
As 2020 unfolded and the pandemic persisted, anti-masker became an increasingly popular epithet amongst opponents of those who took the virus too lightly by refusing to wear masks. The term anti-masking is also used to refer to the stance opposed to masks or to protest groups who oppose mask mandates. It also became associated with the slang term Karen, an ethnic slur for a white woman similar to white trash, following a series of viral videos showing white women vehemently rejecting masks in public.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have advised people to wear face masks in public places and gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by a highly contagious, airborne virus. Many governments have issued mandatory mask mandates in response.
See also
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