I'm sure I'll take flak for this response, but here it goes...

I have lived and worked with many people with different religious/cultural dress. I found it mildly interesting and sometimes beautiful (like a fancy sari sp? which can be truly gorgeous). Often the person's religion/culture dictated various headwear (turban for a man etc). Never bothered me, that's for sure.

But, I believe a mandated or even recommended covering which obliterates the face, allowing only eyes or in the case of a burqa only shielded eyes to be seen is an erasure of identity. I think it is unhealthy in so many ways. It makes women completely interchangeable. It changes women from individuals to merely a concept or group. It eliminates nonverbal communication which is a substantial component to human interaction. Overall, it has massive ramifications, all negative I believe. Plus, the concept that a woman must cover her face from men who cannot control themselves gives license to men to behave unacceptably (wasn't their fault, after all) and causes victim blame.

OK. Now I'll duck and wait.