How do women wear abayas ?
" While the military defends the policy of encouragement to wear the hijab as a " sign of respect " to the local culture that " “ can help promote greater trust and a fuller interaction with the local population , " McSally , who retired from the air force as a colonel , said that " especially in combat settings , " when a superior tells a military subordinate that a practice is encouraged , “ the very mention of the practice creates pressure to comply . ” In a February 18 , 2011 op - ed in " The Washington Post , " she said that the policy of encouraging women to wear the " Muslim headscarves " is " appeasement , not respect " and that " American servicewomen will continue to be viewed as second - class warriors if leaders push them to take up the customs of countries where women are second - class citizens . "