The Post-Modern Veil & The Less Skin I Show

I came across an interview with Nawal Zaynab El* an Egyptian feminist and critic of Islam, I was instantly charmed by her passion for writing and upheaval of the status quo and am quaking to read 'God Dies by the Nile' but I was also introduced to the concept of make-up as the post-modern veil. Nawal Zaynab El states

"The girls are veiled under social pressure; they are unaware of the pressure. Like women who put on makeup—the post-modern veil. I am against makeup, and I am against showing the breast. Nakedness and veiling are two faces of the same coin."

Now I am only feminist in the sense that I think women and men are totally and absolutely equal in ALL THINGS. I think gender exists but I think we can choose both or neither in the way that we choose our clothing but this struck a definitive chord in me. She also states further

"And that’s why I do not like parties. Women are half-naked, you know. It’s the fashion now. Women show their breasts. I am not against nakedness if everyone is naked, men and women. But men in the gala were in black tie, with the black suit, always covered. They don’t show their breasts."

Make-up used to be an aesthetic statement for me. As opposed to a method to increase my attractiveness or to hide my imperfections it was a way to complete whatever style I was trying to achieve (usually living-dead with an elegant 1001 Nights twist). These couple of years however it's turned into the former. I worry about how young or plain or just ethnic I look without it. For most women make-up is very much just an avenue to look more attractive to their male and female peers alike. On the surface there is nothing wrong with this. Everyone wants to be more attractive and will strive to be so if possible. However there is the under-current of 'however you are naturally isn't good enough' there's also the festering layer of comparison of wanting to be better than someone else.
On the other hand, a good dash of foundation and some eyeliner can make someone a million times more confident or more at ease with herself or himself (because lets face it "feminine anything" is now not an issue just for females). I can't quite form a solid opinion on this issue, I've gone through all three make-up phases;

-make-up for style; fun but exhausting, after a while the effort grows borring
-no make-up; easy and liberating at first but then I found that it encouraged me to be not only slovenly all day but also increased my anti-socialness. Felt less confident and less compelled to make an effort.
-make-up for beauty; made me more confident at first but now more high maintenance and hyper-aware of my flaws. When I don't get a chance to put it on I feel ugly rather than just slovenly.

The latter quote is also interesting but I view it a different light than most. I think men wear what they wear because they feel that no one wants to see them show off their body parts, that in the end it endangers their masculinity. In fact it is hard to picture a man looking appealing in an off the shoulder top but I for one love the way bare shoulders look on both men and women. Perhaps fashion should adopt the same attitude toward sexualizing men as it does toward women? In so many ways it already has, just check out david Beckham's new 60 ft Armani ad http://www.celebridiot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/david_beckham_armani_launch_san_francisco_main.jpg or note the skinny jeans and tight everything that many alternative subcultures have taken a shine to.

In the meanwhile although I think sexualization isn't necessarily a bad thing I'm going to try covering up more even though it's summer. How does showing less skin feel I wonder?

*Although the article lists her name as Nawal El Saadawi she states that she has taken up calling herseld by her mother's name Nawal Zaynab El. http://www.doublex.com/section/arts/islam%E2%80%99s-bluntest-critic