Quote Originally Posted by World's End Stella View Post
Yes, quite possibly. Although I expect that is just one of many influences, the others being historically and culturally oriented.

But to simply say that women cover up because Islam forces them to is incorrect and reinforces a prejudice which is unhelpful.
You're trying to treat culture and religion as though they are wholly distinct entities when they plainly are not. Culture is a reflection of religion and vice-versa. That there may be other cultural factors does not make the point that Islamic cultures and societies are violently oppressive towards women in terms of their rights and freedom of behaviour any less valid.

On the other hand, if you are attempting seriously to argue that the cultural and religious norms in predominantly Islamic societies are not violently prejudicial to the rights and freedoms of women, I can only assume you to have been recently lobotomised.