erysteTo the person above me. You ask " Do the images above, the requirements for the female of our species to be subjugated, regulated, and forced to cover and dress in these ridiculous costumes to avoid offending God, or man? "
My question back to you is.. Is subjecting women and making them wear basically nothing make them 'free', liberated and most importantly respected? Women in the west are basically materialized and used for a simple means: physical.
Our religion is more important then fashion and being able to show your knee's or not. It is greater then that my dear.
Let's take for example the royal wedding that has happened recently. Kate Middleton wore a full sleeved lace wedding dress and news agencies have made it clear that the females in the royal family are to wear dresses below the knee and wear stockings etc. She shouldn't show her chest or wear revealing clothes. That is all to do with being in the royal family and being married to a prince. Well, in our religion all women are queens and all are treated as such.
Walking around in a bikini in front of strangers isn't a way to "celebrate her beauty." Does it matter if a bunch of stranger's stare at her naked body? Her body is sacred and should be treated as such and not be shown to everyone.