Amid the coronavirus pandamic, some are wondering: What is it with some Americans refusing to wear masks while in public places?
A few days ago, we saw news of a man booted from Florida-bound flight at LGA for not wearing mask. A video from inside the plane shows part of an exchange between a Port Authority cop and the man, in which the officer asks the passenger to get off the plane and the man argues with him.
Now comes a video of another incident at a Costco that has gone viral. In the image being shared on social media, a woman – dubbed ‘Costco Karen‘ – is seen throwing a temper tantrum before plopping on the ground in dissent.
“I just need you to put that on for now while you’re in the building. That’s all,” an employee is heard telling the woman, referring to the face mask already dangling from her ear. “Just temporarily while you’re in here, and then you can take it right back off.”
New ‘Costco Karen’ Sighting —throws 3-yr-old type tantrum— sits on the floor and won’t leave because “this is America..” —tries to lie about medical condition then changes her mind 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/GLDmPDnGar
— ONLY iN LVNV ➐ (@OnlyInLVNV) July 2, 2020
“I will not,” the woman responds to the Costco employee, before going on to say the mask requirement is “your problem.”
The woman admitted that she doesn’t have a medical condition but claimed that her reason for refusing the mask is because “I am a U.S. citizen. I have constitutional rights,” to which the employee, again, politely reminded her that she’s in a privately-owned place of business where masks are required.
Twitter Image grab
Amid a new surge in COVID-19 cases, several states have ordered people to wear masks in most indoor spaces when social distancing isn’t possible.
- How the ‘Karen Meme’ Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood – Time
- Karen (slang) – Wikipedia
- “Refusing to Wear a Mask Is Like Driving Drunk” – New York Times
- Why do so many Americans refuse to wear face masks? Politics is part of it — but only part – Marketwatch
- The Condoms of the Face: Why Some Men Refuse to Wear Masks – Scientific American – It’s not the first time masculine ideology has driven resistance to a public health initiative
- A Doctor Explains Why 45% Of All Americans Refuse To Wear A Protective Mask – Forbes
I’m a woman of color and don’t get that “Karen” vibe here. I think this woman’s behavior may be due to the absence of the normalcy for the general population. Even historically normal people can suffer a mental breakdown in a pandemic. Or she could have had mental illness before the pandemic and the outbreak made it worse. After all, you got to be a mental case to sit on the bare floor in a public place in any circumstances. Little children may do it because they simply do not know any better.
True, most of the folks watching a few minutes of video are just judging based on what they see here.
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