purdah

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purdah An Urdu word meaning ‘curtain’ or ‘screen’ and referring to a system of sex-role differentiation marked by strong physical and social segregation. Purdah is maintained by the segregation of physical space within the household and by the use of articles of clothing such as the veil. It is largely associated with Islamic religion and culture but immensely variable in the form and degree of observance amongst Islamic peoples.

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