And some cultures won't let women have an education either. Female students can face harassment, schools for girls are sometimes burned down...
There have been quite a number of incidents here in Quebec lately relating to the wearing of the niqab. I find it quite bizarre, that someone would want to fight for the right to wear what could be termed an oppressive garment.
I think a person should be free to wear whatever they like. But a garment such as the niqab does tend to put up a sort of wall, and I don't see how that could help for human interactions. I would think the person wearing one would feel rather isolated. I don't see how it could be a healthy way to exist. How can one develop one's identity? But then I have no experience in dealing with either wearing something that covers my face (except a scarf when it's cold) or interacting with someone who wears such a garment. I don't see how one could enjoy wearing such a thing every time one steps out of the house.
I am not in a position to judge here, as I don't know enough about the tradition, nor how it developed. I think one would have to go back to see when/where it started and in what conditions in order to understand where it came from. As a woman living in Canada in the year 2010, it is beyond my comprehension.
As to the rest of the question, history is brimming with cases of large and small scale oppression, be it racial, religion-related or gender-related. As to why, I think it generally stems from control and power issues. I have no idea how it gets so out of hand, or what it is about human nature that oppression can proliferate to such an extent, without enough folks to stand up and say, "hey, wait a minute..."
The little that I have grasped on this topic is that it stems from religious beliefs. I have never gone so far as to read the texts involved, so I don't feel I should comment on that. But this treatment of women has been well indoctrinated in certain communities, it seems.
What kind of effect would all this have on the collective women's psyche? How can one support the oppression of one's Mother, one's Sister, one's Daughter?
I often count my lucky stars that I live in the location, and the era that I do.
Very good question, ON.