I support the author’s proposition, that women should be free to dress as they wish. There are some apparent contradictions, however:

The problem with religious garments is that if they become the norm, then they become expected; and religious communities are notorious for being intolerant. Thus, wearing a hijab encourages the growth of a practice that would, inevitably, constrict one’s freedom: even if the government did not require hijab’s, social pressure might.

(The recent case in Malaysia is but one example, of people being pressured by the government — which responds to social pressure — to wear the hijab even though it is not required by law.)

It also seems peculiar to me that a woman would choose to wear a covering that men are not expected to wear: that is inherently asymmetric, and by being asymmetric, brands women as different — as inferior.

The author also wrote, “She can also wear makeup and fashionable clothing if she likes.” Isn’t this a contradiction? As I understand it, the purpose of a hijab is to cover those aspects of a woman that might be appealing or attention-getting to men; but lipstick and attractive clothing would have the same effect as nice hair, which the hijab is intended to cover…