You have to separate the culture of certain arabs away from what Islam teaches.
In Islam women are able to own their property, divorce, not be forced into marriage, run their own business, things which up until 50 years ago were unheard of in north america and certain western countries. Women would not be allowed to divorce, not allowed to operate businesses unless under their husband's, etc... etc... Islam allowed all this over 1400 years ago.
The fact that some ignorant Arabs who don't know much about Islam enforce certain pre-islamic culture vibes does not mean Islam is what you think or try to portray it as.
There are certain aspects you may not be able to understand such as, men and women not mixing, this may seem strange to you, but it is not really strange to us. What business do I have with other women? Unless it is work for instance. Likewise with my wife? Since becoming muslim I have cut off from all female friends not out of some kind of enmity but out of respect and self-respect. These things seem awkward to some. That does not mean I act as an emotionless wall towards the other gender, but the way I view and respect women is different and this is in Islam.
On the other hand, the opposite is people intermingling, partying together, even mixed gatherings as I know from my own family before islam, always some kind of jealousy or comments or flirtation something may arise. We are humans after all. To avoid all these issues islam teaches us preventative actions.
Why employ a cure, when you can prevent a certain disease to begin with? Why fall into trouble and have to fix it? When you can avoid the trouble to begin with?
So in retrospect, the gender mixing or lack of it for that matter may seem strange to some of you. Muslim women wanting to cover and not expose themselves for every joe and schmoe may seem strange to you but it is out of respect and self-respect.
The likelyhood of a guy whistling and doing stupid crap at a woman who is in a micro skirt and heavy makeup is alot more likely than a woman in jilbab and hijab that walks modestly, doesn't have her ass visible nor struting down for attention, but protecting what is hers.