Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Javad Madahi mashizi ¹
• Masoumeh Bahmani ²
• Abdolhossein Daneshvari Nasab ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

² Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Bahner University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

Abstract

Hormozgan Province is recognized as a center of indigenous knowledge and cultural diversity in southern Iran. The traditional women's garment known as the "burqa" goes beyond mere clothing, carrying deep semantic, social, and economic layers. Despite its historical and cultural significance, few studies have phenomenologically explored the lived experiences of Hormozgani women regarding the multifaceted functions of the burqa. The aim of this research is to analyze the lived dimensions of burqa-wearing among women in Hormozgan.

This study was conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach within the framework of phenomenology of lived experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 burqa-wearing women (selected through purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was reached). Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA software and thematic coding.

The analysis yielded 249 initial codes, which were categorized into three main themes: symbolic dimensions and sensory perceptions, manifestation of beliefs and religious obligations, and representation of identity and cultural structuralism. The findings indicate that the burqa functions as a cultural mediator and reflects a generational shift from its original role of “concealment and invisibility” toward new functions of “adornment and economic agency.”

Keywords

• Indigenous Knowledge
• Burqa
• Lived Experience
• Women of Hormozgan
• Face Covering

Main Subjects

• Indigenous Knowledge