I am beginning a remodel of my bathroom. Currently it has a soffit over the shower stall, and I am trying to decide whether to remove it or keep it. What is the purpose of a soffit above a shower or tub? Can it be remove without any ill effects?

Thanks in advance

Punch a hole in the soffit and see what's up there. There may be a vent in the way. Is there a light fixture?
If there is nothing up there and you like the increase height, go w/o the soffit.

Some soffits were put there for storage but if you do not have a door on it that knocks that idea in the head. The reason I lowered the ceiling of the shower was to save several square feet of ceramic tile when tiling the shower.