Reebok, Are Their Masks Workout
Friendly?
Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic caught the
whole world by surprise back in March. The year had so far been like any other
year. All of a sudden, the coronavirus is all over the news and we’re told to
start social distancing. Then it started to get crazier, you see some people
wearing masks, some schools are closing it seems like the whole world was in a
panic. Before we know it, we can’t leave our homes and seeing our extended
families through facetime and zoom calls. Restaurants are closed only allowing
take out, and the icing on the cake, every sport was stopped in its tracks.
Before we knew it, the virus had consumed all our attention, and people started
to ask, what’s going to happen after this? What is the normal going to look
like when we’re out of this lockdown? How are we going to stop the spread of
this virus? Scientists determined the virus is spread by respiratory droplets.
Respiratory droplets can be spread by coughing and sneezing. The best that we
can do is reduce the number of droplets we spread in the air, the only way we
can do that is through masks. Scientists determined that 20-500 micrometers or
droplets can be generated from a person from saying a single phrase. A study of
people who had influenza showed that wearing a mask reduced the amount of the
virus emitted in droplets. Before we knew it everywhere you went you saw
everyone in a mask.
The
demand for masks skyrocket once the country started to open up again. With some
state governments introducing a mask mandate, everyone needs a mask. Clothing
and athletic wear companies see this as a huge opportunity to make a lot of
money. Reebok is a company who makes athletic shoes and clothing. Reebok
decided to create a mask and sell it to the public. The main advertising point
that Reebok has for this product is “Comfortable. Washable. Reusable.”. The
description for the mask is that it is made with soft breathable fabric. It is
comfortable, washable, and reusable, and it can help prevent the spread of
viruses and germs through water droplet transmissions. The masks come in a
three pack for $30.00, overall, not a bad price. The mask is 93% polyester and
7% elastane, machine washable and has stretching earl loops. Reebok describes
the masks as made with soft breathable two-layer fabric with stretchy ear loops
for tight coverage. The mask is all black with the white Reebok logo on the
left cheek of the mask. On the Reebok website the accompanying photos are all
of people doing some sort of exercise with the mask on.
Masks
will always be criticized for their breathability. Everyone wants to be able to
breath like normal when they are in public situations while also following the
guidelines put into place by the state. Every company that produces masks claim
to have made a breathable and comfortable mask. Reebok is no different
advertising their mask as “soft and breathable”. It’s one thing to advertise a
breathable mask, but it’s another thing to actually produce a mask that is
breathable to the average
person. Not only breathable in relaxed public settings, but also while going on
a run or doing an intense workout. Emmanuel San Gil is a trainer who is a
professional in fitness reviewed the Reebok mask. He used the Reebok mask on a
five-kilometer run where his heart rate was 118 beats per minute and his oxygen
levels were 98. He came to the conclusion that this mask was viable for use in
a running workout. A youtuber by the name of Cambrioto said the mask was
comfortable and noticed when talking, the mask did not fall down below the
nose. Additionally, a customer by the name of Brandon reviewed the Reebok
facemask as a “Great product: Fits well and breathable; I can use it during
workouts and around town.”. Other customers have also written about their
experiences like Rusty who said the mask was “Absolutely perfect. Very comfortable.
Excellent quality.”. The reviews are mostly positive.
Reebok
was established in 1958, and ever since they have been making clothes that
perform while partaking in athletic activity. As a response to the Covid-19
pandemic, Reebok shifted some of its resources to start producing masks. Trying
to make a comfortable, breathable, and functional mask is a tough task. You
have companies who have been making facemasks for years who still cannot make
them comfortable or breathable. So, for a company that started producing masks
nine months ago the mask they are producing is pretty solid. Most of the
reviews are positive, and say that the mask is very comfortable, as advertised.
The masks coming in a three pack for only $30.00 is not taking advantage of
their customers.
Stakeholders
The
stakeholders in this situation are the company of Reebok, the customers and the
investors of Reebok.
Reebok are the ones tasked with creating the mask, producing it and then
selling it to their customers as advertised. The customers purchase the mask
giving the company money in exchange for the mask. The customer wears the mask
in public scenarios if they deem the mask to be comfortable, breathable, and effective.
The investors are the ones who have given their money to Reebok for production.
The investors expect their money back, so Reebok has to think of ideas to
maximize their profit to make their investors happy. In this case they came up
with producing and selling masks. So far they are keeping their investors very
happy with the return of money.
Kantianism
Kantian
ethics refers to not using people as a mere means to an end, and not being
deceitful and lying to others. A company has to have the right motives and
intentions in order for them to follow Kantian ethics. When it comes to Kantian
ethics Reebok does nothing wrong here. They made a product, advertised it as
comfortable, breathable, and capable of performing during exercise and if you
look at what the people who have used the product are saying it does just that.
On a third-party website out of over 1,200 reviews there are 1,000 four or five
stars. The people who have used the mask have backed up Reebok’s claims. Reebok
did not lie to the public, they delivered on everything that their
advertisement and description said. The people of the United States were in an
uproar when states began to instate a mask mandate. Claiming they cannot
breathe when they have the mask on. Reebok saw the complaints of the public and
decided to capitalize on that market. They saw the people in need of a
comfortable breathable mask and made a comfortable, breathable mask. This would
not necessarily follow Kantian ethics if they claimed to have made a breathable
and comfortable mask if the customers completely disagreed. As we saw from the
reviews of the mask, the people who have bought it, love it. They claim it is
exactly as advertised. Reebok did not just use their customers for their money
and give them a bad mask. Therefore, referring to Kantian ethics they have done
nothing wrong with their production and selling of their facemasks.
Referring
to the price of the masks, also reinforces the fact that Reebok does nothing
wrong under the Kantian ethical theory. As mentioned before the Reebok masks
are in a package of three for $30.00, making them $10.00 per mask. Looking at
other masks online made of the same material, that price is very reasonable.
With most of the masks being sold for between around $8.99 and 12.99. with
their prices being pretty reasonable, it proves that the company of Reebok is
not using their customers for their money. If they were, they would sell them a
mask that is double the price as other polyester masks.
Individualism
Individualism
refers to the company maximizing profits for their stakeholders within the law.
In this case Reebok saw an opportunity with the pandemic going on. They saw how
much the demand for masks and face coverings went up and decided to capitalize
on it. According to NBC news, Reebok facemasks are the 15th most
bought facemask in the united states as of October 22nd. Reebok
definitely maximized their profits because they could have just sat their and
did nothing. They could have told themselves that they are a clothing company
so they should not be making masks. If they had done that, they would not have
been maximizing their profits. Everything that they did with the production and
the selling of the masks was within the law. The masks are also not crazy
over-priced, so the company is not trying to take advantage of people. Based on
the reviews they did not lie to the public, so Reebok does not conflict with
individualism in this scenario.
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism
aims to maximize happiness. The company of Reebok is maximizing happiness. The
people who buy the facemasks are happy that they now have three masks that are
capable of exercise. The people who buy the masks are happy they have a
comfortable and breathable mask they can wear out in public. People were
unhappy with the mask mandate because they would have their air restricted.
They were unhappy that while they were in public, they would be unable to
breath because of the mask. If these people bought the Reebok mask, they would
have their main complaint taken care of. They now have a mask that they won’t even
notice they have on when they are in public. The company is happy because they
are making more money than they would usually make. Normally they would just be
receiving the profits from people purchasing their shoes sweatshirts and other
athletic apparel. Now that they have started producing facemasks, they have
even more profit that they did not have in years past. The investors are
getting more of a return in their investments because the company is making
more money. The Reebok investors are very happy with the amount of extra money
the company will be making this year. In this situation every stakeholder is
happy, so Reebok is acting under utilitarianism.
Utilitarianism
also focuses on bettering society, which in this case Reebok is doing. Reebok
is keeping people safe when they are in public with the production of a
facemask. They are also making a mask that people find comfortable and
breathable, so more people will be happy or willing to wear a mask while they
are in public. Thus, helping stop the spread of Covid-19.
Virtue Theory
Virtue
theory refers to the four cardinal virtues, honesty, courage, justice, temperance,
and prudence. If one of the virtues is not present, then it fails under virtue
theory. Honesty would mean being truthful to the people you are selling your
product to. As mentioned before the reviews of the product reflect that Reebok
was honest with the advertisement of this product. The mask does exactly what
the company said it would and for the most part people have no complaints. Courage
can be summarized as risk taking. The company of Reebok took a risk with their
decision to start selling masks. They had never produced facemasks or coverings
before. Having never produced something before no matter how large the demand,
is a risk by itself. They were successful in taking this risk because they
produced a mask that the public likes. Another cardinal virtue is temperance.
Temperance refers to self-restraint or a company’s ability to have self-control.
Reebok showed its self-control with the price they set for the mask. $10.00 for
a mask made of polyester is not a bad price. For the quality mask that they
have produced they could have been selling it for a much higher price a people
would probably still purchase it. Finally, the fourth virtue theory is prudence
which is justice. Justice is the moral obligation to at on the basis of
lawfulness. The mask that Reebok produces is within the law and it also checks
off fairness because it gives people a chance to purchase an affordable
polyester mask. Reebok checks off all the boxes for the cardinal virtues, so
the company is acting ethically under virtue theory.
Justification Ethics
Evaluation
Reebok saw a need that people had a
produced a product that fulfilled that need. They acted ethically while doing
so as well. Reebok does not fail under any of the ethical theories. They
maximized their profit by diving into a new market. They maximized happiness by
producing something that would make their profits go up and make their
customers happy. They fall under all of the cardinal virtues. Therefore, reebok
acted completely ethical in the production of their masks.
References
https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/reebok-face-mask---3-pack/499494
https://www.reebok.com/us/face-covers-m-l-3-pack/H18222.html
Malin, Zoe, and Shop TODAY.
“Face Masks: The Most Purchased Masks We've Recently Covered.” NBCNews.com,
NBCUniversal News Group, 6 Nov. 2020,
www.nbcnews.com/shopping/apparel/popular-face-masks-cdc-valves-n1236806.
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