In Saudi Arabia it is absolutely essential that women wear their Purdahs. Purdah or Pardeh derives from Persia and it means "curtain," also meaning the practice of concealing women from men.
According to one definition:
Purdah is a curtain which makes a clear separation between the world of men and the world of women. It creates a separation between the community, the streets, the home, and the public and private affairs.
Purdah applies to the opposite sex to those who are not mahram (married). Mahram is a man that can never be marry; such as a brother or a father. Such action is considered taboo, and is also punishable. However, a brother-in-law is not considered Mahram because in Islam one can marry a brother-in-law after the death or divorce of his wife. (Mention Muhammad)
Dress Code
When Muslim in Saudi Arabia is around non-mahram men, women must the parts on their bodies that are awrah. Awrah are parts of the body that are supposed to be cover.
For the most part (in other countries that practice Islam) a women’s face is not awrah. However, in Saudi Arabia everything except the hands and eyes can be visible.
Majority of the women in Saudi Arabia wear hijabs and full black cloaks called an abaya.
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Abaya=
In general, women’s clothing should not disclose anything about her body. It needs to be thick, opaque, and loose. The point of the hijab and abaya is to not attract the interest of a male. Therefore, adornment is typically shied away from whereas dull colored is typical.
Men’s and women’s clothing should not resemble eachother.
Abayas have now come to be an expression of a woman’s taste and personality.
However, in present day, abayas have become more fashionable and currently come in other colors than just black. They can also be decorated with glitter and patterns.
In some parts of Saudi Arabia the dress code is considered a symbol gender oppression. Places like France and Quebec have gone as far as banning hijabs in public places. However, many Muslim women are complaining against that law.
Journalist Sabria Jawhar states:
(People) lose sight of the bigger issues like jobs and education. That’s the issue of women’s rights, not the meaningless things like passing legislation in France or Quebec to ban the burqa ... Non-Saudis presume to know what’s best for Saudis, like Saudis should modernize and join the 21st century or that Saudi women need to be free of the veil and abaya ... And by freeing Saudi women, the West really means they want us to be just like them, running around in short skirts, nightclubbing and abandoning our religion and culture.
