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Who wears a mask? Gender differences in risk behaviors in the COVID-19 early days in Taiwan

Author

Listed:
  • Yating Chuang

    (National Taipei University)

  • John Chung-En Liu

    (National Taiwan University)

Abstract

We evaluate mask-wearing behaviors in response to COVID-19 based on 12,208 observations in February 2020 in Taiwan. We find that, compared to men, women are 16 percent more likely to wear masks as a way to protect themselves during the pandemic. The protective behaviors, however, decrease significantly when people are with others. This gender difference in mask-wearing has dropped the most when people are with a mixed-gender group. Our results call for attention to gender differences and peer dynamics when discussing health protection behaviors in the COVID-19 crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Yating Chuang & John Chung-En Liu, 2020. "Who wears a mask? Gender differences in risk behaviors in the COVID-19 early days in Taiwan," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(4), pages 2619-2627.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-20-00882
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed Al-Rawi & Maliha Siddiqi & Clare Wenham & Julia Smith, 2022. "The gendered dimensions of the anti-mask and anti-lockdown movement on social media," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Borau, Sylvie & Couprie, Hélène & Hopfensitz, Astrid, 2022. "The prosociality of married people: Evidence from a large multinational sample," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. Grace O. Onodipe & Amanda L. Wilsker & Mark A. Partridge, 2022. "Economic knowledge, political views, and Covid-19 related behaviors," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 42(2), pages 895-906.
    4. Despina Gavresi & Anastasia Litina & George Mavropoulos & Sofia Tsitou, 2024. "The Role of Gender and Family Norms on the COVID-19 Spread in Europe," Discussion Paper Series 2024_06, Department of Economics, University of Macedonia, revised Jun 2024.
    5. Natalia Maja Józefacka & Robert Podstawski & Małgorzata Barbara Płoszaj & Elżbieta Szpakiewicz & Mateusz Franciszek Kołek & Andrzej Pomianowski & Gabriela Kania & Anna Niedźwiecka & Dominika Łabno & A, 2022. "Masquerade of Polish Society—Psychological Determinants of COVID-19 Precautionary Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-12, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk Preference; Risk Behavior; Face Masks; Gender; Peer Effects; Taiwan; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments

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