As you say..western clothes have spread worldwide because of their practibility and that is all well and good for those who feel this way.For many muslim women the islamic form of dress such as hijab and niqab if she choses is a part of her personal spiritual journey.

Islam places a very great importance on privacy, and on keeping private what should be private. Hijab is in fact part of a larger code of conduct, and constitutes only one aspect of the islamic way of life.

As a muslim woman I do not feel opressed nor (to quote the above comment) do I have "ridiculous nature of an idiot who insists on deliberately adopting the most extreme dress".Infact the complete opposite! I wear the hijab not as a self defense mechanism but as a proud intelligent muslim woman! can you imagine the faith and courage a woman has to wear the niqab!?

why do we never hear criticism of the orthodox jewish women who shave their hair completely and then cover their heads with wigs? or sikhs who wear turbans? or nuns who wear head coverings?