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itsbruce
@hoefla
It kinda sounds like you don't know many feminists or people who wear burqas, or you're just doing that "isn't there an argument for" internet discussion thing. Not being flippant, but it's like you're projecting an idea you've only half thought of.
If there are "huge swathes of the population" who basically fear the burqa for it's perceived anti-feminism, I would've thought a pretty good way of defusing that fear would be for them to meet more 'normal' people (feminists) who wear burqas. They exist. My perception (no references available) is that people who fear the burqa do so primarily not because of "feminism is bullshit" but a more basic cultural alienation, a strangeness. That strangers can be (cautiously) accepted or even welcomed, if there is some cultural overlap, but too little and it feels unacceptable, too different. I believe at its root it's this simple, and doesn't need overcomplicating with comparison to hoodies, banks and face-to-face MP surgeries, but that this basic fear of the unknown can be easily manipulated and distorted. A few odd aliens might be ok, but if the papers are telling you that they are coming for your country, and soon you will be forced to conform to this thing you don't understand, you feel rather differently about it. There are people who find it just as alien and strange that others go out with little more covering than underwear in public - and also assume that it must be due to cultural oppression of a different kind. Yes there are all sorts of layered and thorny influences that lead to simple instinctive feelings - mostly the more unpleasant aspects of morality and religion - but that basic sense of - "I cannot imagine wanting to do that or thinking it's normal" is hard to shake if whatever it is, remains alien. All IMO, of course.