Pink Masks: A Chance to Educate Gender Equality|男童拒戴粉紅口罩引關注 機會教育性平觀念

Taiwanese health officials wore pink face masks at a regular press conference on April 13 in response to a reporter's question that pink colored masks have sparked fear among male students being ridiculed because it's considered a "girly" color. Central Epidemic Command Center head Chen Shih-chung warmly said pink is a good color and the color of masks did not matter as long as it's effective.


Even though windows in classrooms are opened, almost all students at this elementary school are still wearing face masks. The colors of the masks range from blue, pink and purple to other printed patterns.

I've been getting pink face masks since the start of the pandemic. I don't think it's such a big deal.

I always get blue masks every time we purchase the masks. We only get the pink ones a few times.

As long as the face masks can protect us from the virus, then we should disregard the color of the masks.

A member from the basketball team with a tall and strong physique said he just wear whatever color of masks he and his parents bought at the pharmacies. The most important thing right now is to take precautions and it is not a problem at all for him to wear pink face masks. But there are still some who refuse to wear pink masks.

I like purple. (Are you willing to wear pink face masks?) No.

I wear boyish colored masks on weekdays, but I wear pink masks during the weekends.

(Have you tried other colors?) Yes, I've tried pink masks. (How does it feel to wear the pink masks?) I don't feel comfortable. (Why?) Because I don't like pink.

The school observed that the students have been wearing masks of various colors since the start of the semester, with no explicit gender preferences or reports of mockery.