The use of face masks and coverings has been a central component of efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and has been legally mandated in some countries. Most academic studies to date, however, have focussed primarily on its effectiveness in reducing SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission, largely neglecting the social dimensions of mask mandates. In this narrative interview‐based study, we consider experiences of face masks, with a particular focus on groups considered to be at a potential disadvantage from compulsory masking. Drawing on 40 telephone, video‐call and e‐mail interviews, we highlight the impact of inconsistent communication and the notion of mask wearing as an act of altruism on participants’ experiences. In particular, we show how intolerance towards individuals who did not wear masks could result in stigma and exclusion, regardless of the legitimacy of their reasons. We suggest that more is needed to mitigate the ‘dark side’ of discourses of collective effort and altruism at a time of societal stress and fracture, and to account for the needs and interests of groups for whom compulsory masking may result in further marginalisation.

This article discusses the influence of a chromosome condition affecting women's reproductive capacity, Turner Syndrome (TS), on affected women's social timing, examining the strategic decisions that are made within families in relation to reproduction, to navigate these disruptions. Based on photo elicitation interviews with 19 women with TS and 11 mothers of girls with TS in the UK, it presents findings from an under-researched topic, TS and reproductive choices. In a social context where motherhood is not only desirable, but expected (Suppes, 2020), the social imaginary of infertility anticipates a future of unhappiness and rejection, an undesirable condition that should be avoided. Accordingly, mothers of girls with TS often expect that their daughter will want to have children. Infertility diagnosed in childhood has a distinctive impact on reproductive timing, as future options may be anticipated for years. This article uses the concept of 'crip time' (Kafer, 2013) to explore how women with TS and mothers of girls with TS experience temporal misfitting based on a childhood diagnosis of infertility, and manage, resist and re-frame this to minimise stigma. The 'curative imaginary' (Kafer, 2013), a social norm where disabled people are expected to desire a cure for their condition, is used as an analogy for infertility, describing how mothers of girls with TS respond to social pressure to plan for their daughter's reproductive future. These findings may be useful both for families navigating childhood infertility and practitioners who support them. This article demonstrates the cross-disciplinary potential of applying disability studies concepts to the context of infertility and chronic illness, where concepts shed new light on the dimensions of timing and anticipation in this context, improving our understanding of the lived experience of women with TS, and how they view and use reproductive technologies.

Ovarian tissue freezing (OTF), currently used to preserve fertility for girls and women with cancer, is beginning to be considered for conditions that cause ovarian insufficiency in childhood, such as Turner Syndrome (TS). This article addresses the gap in information on how women with TS and their families view OTF and the values that inform the decision to use it. It reports qualitative findings on the perceived benefits and challenges of OTF, using a purposive sample of 19 women with TS and 11 mothers of girls with TS in the UK, taken from a wider study on how reproductive choices are shaped by TS. It concludes by looking at ways to address the potential use of OTF with families. Most participants strongly supported the option of OTF. Perceived benefits included the potential for natural conception and a genetically-related child, and increasing the agency of women with TS. Perceived challenges included the invasive nature of tissue collection, the age it would need to be performed, and how girls and their family would be informed and supported. Some participants also identified the impact on a girl’s future fertility and the possibility that TS is heritable as barriers.

Objective In middle-income to high-income countries, temporary accommodation (TA), regardless of type, is considered a form of homelessness. Families with young children living in these countries, in these circumstances, often become disconnected from friends, family and services (such as health and welfare support). The additional impact of pandemic restrictions on parents with children under 5 already living in TA had the potential to be considerable. However, this remains an area of limited research. To address this, this study explored the experiences of parents with children under 5, who lived in TA during the pandemic. Design The research adopted a qualitative descriptive approach, using semi-structured telephone interviews with 41 families, to explore parents’ experiences of living in TA during the pandemic, with a child under 5. Interviews considered a broad range of factors such as housing quality, access to healthcare and education and the environment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Parent interviews identified that living in TA with a child under 5 during the pandemic impacted their access to services such as healthcare and ability to gather resources, while also affecting their mental health and general well-being. These parent experiences were detailed in three themes, including: (1) effect of restrictions on access, which included healthcare, environment and basic necessities; (2) impact on parents, which included mental health, physical and social impacts and (3) supports, including support services and networks. Conclusion The challenges conveyed by COVID-19 restrictions, on those already parenting a young child while living in TA, caused concerning health impacts for those affected, while also having potential developmental side effects on their children. This indicates the urgent need for targeted interventions and policies to support vulnerable families in TA, ensuring their well-being during crises and beyond.