Individualism: America’s Achilles’ Heel Against Covid-19

Bo Brusco | July 4, 2020

"The Achilles Heel" by texmex5 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

America’s Political Culture

America’s political culture can be summarized by the four ideals that constitute the American Creed: Liberty, Equality, Individualism, and Self-Government. Though we helped forge the path for these ideals for the rest of the globe, there is one that remains iconically unique to our country: Individualism. Our affection for this ideal is evident in our policy, but perhaps there has been no greater manifestation than the one we are witnessing right now. For most other countries, the mask is a piece of protective equipment worn to decrease the spread of Covid-19, but because it threatens our individualism, the mask has become a political symbol and a sensitive topic in America. Our loyalty to this ideal potentially explains our inability to unify ourselves against the spread of this virus.

Individualism in America

Harvard Professor of Government, Thomas E. Patterson, explains how our affinity for individualism distinguishes us from other countries by citing a Pew Research Study. The study involved five countries: Spain, France, Germany, Britain, and America. Citizens from each country were asked the same question: What is more important—that nobody is in need or that individuals have the freedom to pursue life’s goals? Out of the 5 countries participating in the study, America was the only one that felt the latter was more important (see Image A.). 

Image A. from edx.org

Elaborating on the data, Patterson notes how this difference isn’t just one of opinion, but one that has consequences. As an example, he articulates how America’s welfare program differs from the other 4 countries’: “Consistent with its greater cultural emphasis on individualism, the United States, though it has a higher poverty rate than do European countries, spends less on programs for the poor—about 25% less (see Image B.).” He additionally points out how our “rules of [welfare] eligibility also differ” from the other countries, further indicating the significance of political culture. All this comparing and contrasting results in the same conclusion: America is more concerned about individual freedoms than resolving the needs of others.

Image B. from edx.org

America’s Achilles’ Heel Against Covid-19

This observable characteristic of America’s political culture has had an unfortunate effect on our battle against Covid-19. This is not to say that there aren’t instances where individualism serves us well, but in the particular case of the pandemic, our loyalty to this ideal is more of an Achilles’ heel than it is an advantage.

The majority of leading epidemiologists believe that  “face masks are a key component of the non-pharmaceutical arsenal we have to combat COVID-19,” indicating the viability of wearing face masks as a preventative measure against the virus. However, masks have unfortunately been pulled into the dividing tides of American politics, becoming a topic of distress rather than a unifying approach; as some believe the mask is an infringement on our individual rights and freedoms. This has resulted in many Americans refusing to wear masks, much to the dismay of epidemiologists and everyone else willing to comply in order to return to their normal lives.

Image from a Palm Beach, Florida County Commission Meeting.

We have seen the videos and read the articles; a significant portion of us find it difficult to wear a mask and take social distancing precautions. Whether it is an inability to wear a mask properly (cutting holes in it, putting the nose over it, placing it under the chin, or taking it off when talking with a cashier), or the persistence that it is a political hoax (a pretty elaborate one that focuses on America and ignores the compromised health and safety of almost every other country in the world), or the belief that America’s leaders want to throw “God’s wonderful breathing system out” (because the government wants to impose tyrannical rule over us), or just the general feeling that masks are uncomfortable, some of us absolutely detest wearing the things. (Side Note: if you have more questions about wearing masks, like whether or not they lower our oxygen levels, this article is a good resource). 

This behavior is reflective of our individualism, and perhaps this is why we find ourselves losing the battle against Covid-19: the collective needs of America are not as important as our individual freedom; the inconvenience of the mask outweighs the health and safety of our communities. Additionally, as masks function not to protect the wearer, but prevent the spread of infection to those around us, they are selfless devices. “There's some evidence of protection for the wearer, but the stronger evidence is that masks protect others from catching an infection from the person wearing the mask,” as the studies mentioned in this article from NPR conclude. It costs us our comfort, and for some that is too high a price to pay for meeting the needs of our country because it is at the expense of the individual. 

Consider This

What seems to be clear in the situation we find ourselves, is that it will take the collective effort of every individual American to successfully overcome this adversity. Never before have we needed to rely so heavily on the selflessness of our neighbors. Perhaps a pessimistic thought, considering what we’ve discussed about individualism, but also what a unique opportunity to emphasize the “U” in the United States of America.