^^because men are pigs, usually

My understanding of this statement is that women wear burquas to shield their bodies from the stares of random men. At home in the presence of family, women dress just as fashionably as women in the countries we're from. They wear the long black garments to protect their beauty from the hungry and wandering eyes of men. Similarly, when it comes to segregation, it's not that women are being segregated in restaurants and things, it's that the single men are. Of course, this is a limited understanding based on very little contact and information with women of the associated religions.

Hah, you're from or near the Midlands Pedestrian, aren't you? It's pretty easy to pick up a basic understanding of Islam if you're near Birmingham.

Islamic views on women are many and varied. The Qur'an states that men have more physical strength than women (something which is physiologically true) and that men are the protectors of women, among other things. I don't have a Qur'an to hand and so can't give more detail.

Women are ,in the Qur'an, commanded to cover their 'awrah, or cover themselves in accordance with the laws of modesty. The idea is that only a woman's immediate family (including a husband, children and step-children) should see their 'private' parts. The actual practice of this varies: some cultures, such as in Malaysia and some Indonesian countries, the simple hijab is the norm alongside normal long-sleeved clothing. In others, the chador (Iranian cloak) or jilbab (long coat) or abaya (a long dress which can also serve as both a dress and an outer coat) are mandatory, along with the all covering khimar (a long all-in-one thing which covers all but the face or niqaab (full face veil). A combination of cultural norms, legal requirements but also personal choice allow women to pick whatever they feel necessary.

With regard as to whether Islam respects women, views vary. I'll find an essay I did and get back to you...

...Western Canada.

Oh, hah, you confused me when you said you'd been to the same Elbow concert as me. I probably read that wrong though, sorry!

Oh, no, I had. I was in the neighborhood this past March.

Malaysian muslim women usually wear head-scarves as well, though this isn't mandatory

covering up their "aurat" isn't really mandatory as well, some still dress sexily

One of my best friends is Muslim, and his mom doesn't wear a burqa of get too strict on covering herself up. He stills fasts for Ramadam, still prays at the Mosque on Fridays (at least when he's out if school) and still refuses to eat meat that isn't halal. Like many religions, it's partly people picking what they think is right out of the religion and leaving out what is wrong.

Oh please; why is there this obsession to bring up whatever shortcomings there are in the Occident as a manner of excusing the radical differences between the Occident & Islam?

Yeah, the glass ceiling exists - and we could debate whether or not any boss ever says, "Yeah, she's qualified, a hard worker, and even though promoting her would result in myself getting more money, - she's a woman, so I won't." but to compare that to the veil? Christ - that's a stretch. That's like comparing the removal of a hang nail to a field amputation. Both involve pain and removing a bit of your body, but they're still different.

No. Some Islamic nations are in a state of unrest; such as thoughs partaking in the awkwardly titled Arab Spring. Others, such as Saudi Arabia, remain paragons of stability, and remain strictly sexist. While there is variation on women's status in Islamic nations, when we look at - say - Islam in North Africa, the Middle East, Persia, Subsaharan Africa, South Asia, etc.... there's way, way too many similarities regarding the treatment of women to say extreme subjugation isn't the norm in Islam.