?
Feedback

Connecting Sociology and YOU!

The Pandemic and YOU

Have you had a difficult time adhering to the 6-foot rule for social distancing? When was it most difficult, or impossible, to keep this distance? Do you think cultural norms will promote far distance zones, even after the pandemic? Why or why not?

Distance Zones

While distance zones are typically assumed to be based on cultural norms that have been passed down through the generations, the emergence of a health crisis like COVID-19 requires society to adjust what it deems to be an appropriate distance between people. The pandemic has seen public health officials recommend that people keep a 6-foot distance between themselves and others. Discussions even emerged about how to social distance from family members in the home (Fitzgerald 2020). The logistical challenges of maintaining a 6-foot distance come into stark focus when one considers close quarter environments like airplanes, classrooms, church pews, or elevators (Josephs 2020).