It's still a garment that reinforces the subjugation of women, by telling them that if they're not fully covered up, they are shameful and unworthy of respect. That's what so many people are forgetting. This isn't about fabric. This is about a specific item of clothing that's associated with shame culture. "Wear this garment, or you deserve it if you get disrespected or raped." The garment is a symbol of the subjugation of Islamic women.

The top comment in this thread is a guy talking about his large surgical scars. But what he's missing is that the burka is a specific article of clothing that's associated with hate. Last week a video of a woman burning her burka made it to the front page. And do you know how a woman would be treated in a primarily Islamic country if she wore a bikini on a beach? Not very well.

The burka is more than just fabric that covers you up. It covers you up because it reinforces that showing your body is shameful based on Islamic principles. And the last time I went to the beach, I wore pants, a long sleeve shirt, spf 70, and a big hat. I didn't wear a kkk outfit, a swastika covered flag, or a burka, because those are items associated with hatred.

Do you see that it's not just fabric? You can't yell "Heil Hitler" in Berlin, because you'll get arrested. Is that wrong? Should one be able to wear a kkk robe about town every day? It's a symbol of racism. But if you're in a mood to discuss free speech, it's no worse than the burka. Both are garments that cover you up based on fear. The kkk outfit for fear of being identified, and the burka for fear of being identified and being a woman.

Should women have the right to wear the burkini on French beaches? Yes! And now they can. Should women have the right to wear bikinis on beaches in Islamic countries? Yes! But they cannot, because of shame culture and rape culture.

It's not just a poly/cotton blend. The burka is a symbol of the subjugation of women.