It is not as simple as you have made it out to be.
In one case, a woman is considered an extremist because she wore a head scarf, but in her community she might be considered a whore for NOT wearing one. Even more complex, some Muslim women wear the veil or headscarf because she sees it as a sign of adherence to her religion, but her sister could chafe at being forced to cover her hair, there is no one answer.

Men do have it a bit easier, or so it would seem, but in many Muslim countries, you would not see a man walking around in shorts, for example. In some places, a man cannot cut his beard, or wear western clothes, it is unfortunate that cultural/societal pressures bring this about, and that western unfamiliarity with ME culture makes every little difference into a larger symbol of fundamentalism.

I'd say that depends on which Muslim countries do you mean. That's why I stated on my post that clothes are related to the culture. I come from South East Asia (Indonesia) where Hindu and Buddha had been the previous common religions before we knew Islam. Thus made our culture views the head scarf differently. Until a few years ago, the government banned the using of head scarf in the state offices, for example. But now as the country becoming more democratic women can wear anything they like as long as it fits the occasion. It is the opposite from what is going on in Europe nowadays. There are various reasons why men cannot wear shorts though. In some places it's considered to be impolite, for example. But they still wear them for special occasion, such as football.

Well, it would be great to hear more about the Indonesian Muslim culture. I am really only familiar with the ME Muslim culture, and I'd say that is true for most of us Westerners here on the forum.

As any other religion, Muslim believes on Koran; as well as Christian with Bible and Buddhist with Tripitaka. What I mean is that although there are Muslims around the world, they hold the same value based on Koran. But again, those values are adjusted into their own customs. Now Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim populated country, where you can see a woman wearing head scarf walking hand in hand with another one in mini skirt.

As for myself, I am not a very religious person so I don't mind that France bans the Muslim students from wearing scarf due to its secular reason; when it's really fair (others also cannot wear their religious symbol. What I'm really afraid is this Islamophobia. Although, I think you are right, SFC Kfi. Most people I met were mistaken me for being Chinese rather than a Muslim.

The intimidation by certain groups of the Muslim lady seems to be the key issue here, not her mode of dress.

In re the cultural trappings of religion, Sir V S Naipaul, with his books 'Beyond Belief' and 'Among The Believers' - which shall be reviewed at length soon - has looked at the incongrousness of tribal, desert customs being enforced in lands far from their origin, and where the original purpose has little meaning.

Sorry for mistyping your name anyway :)

That's it, Aaman. But usually people decide whether a woman is Muslim or not by her clothes (head scarf is the easiest symbol, maybe).
I'm looking forward to read the reviews.

i just wonder why women have it harder than men, even though in Islam they are guaranteed to have a higher status than men?