Where I was in Asia it was one of the reasons, because you don't want to suffer the glares of people if they catch you sneezing without a mask. But people also

Where I was in Asia it was one of the reasons, because you don't want to suffer the glares of people if they catch you sneezing without a mask. But people also wear them to protect themselves, from flu on the trains and smog when on the streets. And the other reason is for a bit of privacy, which appeals to young women in particular.