Completely agree with the last part. On my damaging my own argument by leaving out (for once!) the matter of coercion: I am fed up with repeating myself there. You forget: some women/girls wear pleated skirts and it is not their free choice. I don't get to hear what a symbol of oppression pleated skirts are. Funny that. Any explanation? And where is a debate to ban them? No, white men have other problems:

eurogreen:

I'm afraid I have a visceral reaction when I see a fully-veiled woman : it's as if I were seeing a slave with a neck ring and chain attached.

You see it is not about if some women do get beat up for not wearing veils, or wear them to avoid that or social exclusion in their communities, and not acknowledging that the origin of the tradition wasn't women's free choice. It is about what white men fantasise when they see a veil. No need to even let the woman speak.

And yes, I know there are male and female ban supporters. Did you read my link on white feminism?