Visible religious dress is read as proof of refusing to assimilate

Evidence

As xenophobia has increased against Muslims, Arabs, and persons perceived as such, the conspicuous Muslim veil and Sikh turban are perceived as marks of separation and proof of a refusal to assimilate into mainstream society. — Sahar F. Aziz, Sticks and Stones, the Words That Hurt, 161

Categorization

• ADDENDUM: A modern continuation of the published essay’s core thesis: dress markers become class/identity/political signals, here read as assimilation refusal rather than rank or modesty.
• STORYSTEM: Fiction spark: an employment dispute where the employer’s stated ‘professional appearance’ dress code is revealed, in discovery, to track exactly the religious markers the company’s security screener flagged.