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.”
Madahi mashizi,J , Bahmani,M and Daneshvari Nasab,A . (2026). Masks of Identity: A Genealogy of the Burqa’s Functions as Indigenous Knowledge. (e20039). Indigenous Knowledge of Iran, 13(25), e20039 doi: 10.22054/qjik.2025.88624.1477
MLA
Madahi mashizi,J , , Bahmani,M , and Daneshvari Nasab,A . "Masks of Identity: A Genealogy of the Burqa’s Functions as Indigenous Knowledge" .e20039 , Indigenous Knowledge of Iran, 13, 25, 2026, e20039. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2025.88624.1477
HARVARD
Madahi mashizi J, Bahmani M, Daneshvari Nasab A. (2026). 'Masks of Identity: A Genealogy of the Burqa’s Functions as Indigenous Knowledge', Indigenous Knowledge of Iran, 13(25), e20039. doi: 10.22054/qjik.2025.88624.1477
CHICAGO
J Madahi mashizi, M Bahmani and A Daneshvari Nasab, "Masks of Identity: A Genealogy of the Burqa’s Functions as Indigenous Knowledge," Indigenous Knowledge of Iran, 13 25 (2026): e20039, doi: 10.22054/qjik.2025.88624.1477
VANCOUVER
Madahi mashizi J, Bahmani M, Daneshvari Nasab A. Masks of Identity: A Genealogy of the Burqa’s Functions as Indigenous Knowledge. Indigenous Knowledge of Iran. 2026;13(25):e20039 (In Persian). doi: 10.22054/qjik.2025.88624.1477
