Zed A. Shaw, Painter

I have a cultural observation regarding the US's quarantine efforts and my experience as a painter. For background, I wear surgical gloves while I paint and have been doing so for years. I also do a lot of painting outside, which is the main reason I wear the gloves.

The purposes of the gloves for me when I paint is cleanup and to save my skin which is sensitive. But, the cleanup is the main thing b/c painting outside you don't have access to water and soap. When I pack up I just snap the gloves off and pack, so no paint gets anywhere.

Now this is a perfectly reasonable reason to use gloves when you're painting. It says nothing about my masculinity, skill as a painter, or anything other than it's easier. Buuuut, I'd say 80% of the time when almost anyone sees me wearing gloves they ask, "You wear gloves?!"

They're almost *offended* that I'd cover my hands while I paint. Painters will make fun of me with this weird kind of toxic masculinity like I'm missing a testicle because I wear gloves. A "real painter" gets paint all over and drinks cadmium and turpentine straight!

It's even worse if they find out I'm a programmer. They already think I'm a dork for wearing gloves--and in the US being a dork is the worst thing you can be--but throw in programmer and clearly I have no idea what I'm doing and am a real wuss for wearing gloves.

I started wearing masks early on in the pandemic and I had the same reaction. People yelled at me that the mask was useless, why am I wearing that, looking at me like I'm a weirdo. They went out of their way to shame me in much the same way as when I wore gloves.

I can't explain why, but Americans have some kind of weird aversion to protective gear. If you wear earplugs at a concert you're a dork. If you wear gloves while you paint, put on a N95 mask, have your guitar at a comfortable height, all bring shaming and claims you're a dork.