It is a sign of subjugation. And as a child I felt like a second-class Catholic having to cover my head. If you want to cover your head, fine. But don’t act as though you are holier than those of us who don’t. It is not disrespectful or impious for a woman not to cover her head in church.
You're projecting all sorts of personal feelings into this issue.
A veil is NOT a sign of "subjugation" - were all those German ladies who wore headdresses, all those Scottish ladies who wore mutches, my grandmother -- ALL "subjugated"? Don't think so, you're only as subjugated as you let yourself be. Brides wear veils, is that a sign of "subjugation"? I think it just as easily could be interpreted as a sign of consecration, a veil being a protective barrier or line of demarcation between that which is holy and the world -- just like the veil in the old Temple. That dovetails nicely with Corinthians as well.
It's also a sign of respect - one way to show respect in a particular tradition. Just like my husband wears a kippah when he goes with friends to shul. He's not subjugated to anybody -- he's just showing respect to God (who after all is the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the God of the living, not the dead) as is customary in that place.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "subjugated" anyway -- it's become one of those buzzwords that people throw around. And to whom? If to God, you bet! Of course we're all in an inferior position to God . . . at least I hope you think so.
because you know better than St Paul right?
I view this issue as rather similar to the issue of liturgy:
I can say, “I think it’s a good idea for me to wear a hat to Mass,” just as one can say, “I find the Tridentine Mass the most spiritually edifying form of liturgy.” This is at the level of personal aesthetic and spiritual preference.
Next, I might say, “I think it would be a good idea for YOU to wear a hat to Mass,” or “I think the Tridentine Mass is the best form of Catholic liturgy.” This is a contention that one choice is objectively superior to the alternatives, and an argument can be made in favor of one’s position, if anyone cares to engage in it. Personally, I’d rather drink wine and watch a John Wayne movie while sewing patches on Scout uniforms.
Finally, I might say, “Wearing a hat to Mass makes me a better Christian than someone who doesn’t,” or, “Attending the Tridentine Mass makes me a better Christian than someone who attends a modern Spanish Mass.”
At this point, I think we have a problem. Any form of religious observance - dress, action, liturgy, etc. - should lead us to an ever-greater love of God and neighbor. If I’m considering myself superior to my neighbor, and thinking of myself and my hat (or my elegant Tex-Mex Latin), then I am not properly oriented, no matter what I’m wearing.
***Please note that I’m not attributing the attitude described in part 3 to anyone on the thread!*** I’m just delineating my analysis of these points, based on discussions I’ve had over the years, on both topics, with both Catholics and non-Catholics.