‘He said “there’s always one”‘: Shopper in NSW reveals she was judged by a stranger in a supermarket for wearing a mask – and she’s not the only one
- A woman has revealed she was judged for wearing a mask in a NSW supermarket
- The shopper posted online, where she said she felt ’embarrassed’ in her mask
- She said she was shamed by a stranger for wearing her mask out in public
- Gladys Berejiklian recommended that people wear masks in supermarkets
A woman has revealed she was judged in a regional New South Wales supermarket by a stranger for wearing a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic.
The shopper posted anonymously online, where she said she often feels a ‘weird mix of embarrassment and anger’ when she steps out in her face covering.
Her shame and anger comes in spite of the fact that New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has issued a ‘strong recommendation’ that people wear masks in four key circumstances – including when shopping for groceries.
A woman has revealed she was judged in a regional New South Wales supermarket by a stranger for wearing a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic (stock image from Sydney on July 31)
Her shame and anger comes in spite of the fact that NSW’s Premier Gladys Berejiklian issued a ‘strong recommendation’ that people wear masks when grocery shopping (stock image)
‘Is anyone else feeling a weird mix of embarrassment and anger as they step out in their masks?’ the woman wrote on Facebook.
‘I just visited my local supermarket after work, I donned my mask and made a beeline for my milk and bread essentials.’
The woman continued: ‘Myself and two workers were the only mask wearers in sight.
‘And it made me mad but also strangely self-conscious. One man even made a smart remark saying “there’s always one” as I power walked past.’
The woman said because she was one of the only people wearing a mask (pictured) in the supermarket, she felt self-conscious and was even berated by a stranger
The woman added that while she lives in a small rural town, the town has made national news for ‘people breaking self isolation just last week’.
‘It’s a big stopover town and I’m honestly treating COVID-19 as when not if,’ she said.
‘But I feel the need to justify it to people, telling them I work in health. That I’m the secondary carer for my 84-year-old grandfather.
‘That despite my young age, I suffer respiratory illness myself and never want to gasp for air ever again in my life if I can avoid it.
‘That wearing a mask isn’t restricting our freedom but ensuring we all make it out the other side of a global pandemic.’
She concluded that while she knows it ‘won’t change hearts and minds’, she will keep wearing her own mask and ‘hoping for the best’.
The woman wasn’t the only person who felt they had been shamed for wearing a mask or felt self-conscious when wearing it in a state where face masks aren’t compulsory (stock image from Sydney on July 31)
The woman wasn’t the only person who felt they had been shamed for wearing a mask or felt self-conscious when wearing it in a state where face masks aren’t compulsory.
‘I feel self-conscious too. But I always think I’ll feel sillier if I infect a loved one,’ one NSW woman posted.
Another woman from Adelaide said she feels the exact same and wishes that mask wearing was compulsory, rather than just advised.
‘I just want them to make masks compulsory because it would make me feel so much better,’ she posted.
‘But until then, I don’t want to be the only person wearing one.’