Indigenous identity against non-indigenous identity; Qualitative research about identity incompatibilities in Bandar Abbas

In multicultural societies, identity conflicts, especially indigenous- non-indigenous dualities, create an identifying source and lead to identity challenges and conflicts. The purpose of the present study is to describe the perception and interpretation of the indigenous inhabitants of Bandar Abbas of the duality of indigenous identity and non-indigenous identity and to reveal its contexts and implications.The present study was conducted using qualitative research method and grounded theory strategy. Field data were obtained using purposive-theoretical sampling and interviews with 23 indigenous residents who have lived in the city for at least three generations and were finally analyzed based on three-step coding by Strauss and Corbin.Field findings indicate that the perception of indigenous residents of Bandar Abbas of non-indigenous residents is not inherent, but is based on the lived experience of actors and their social interactions. Participants gain an indigenous identity through their presence and life in their ancestral homeland, but interpret the non-native as a problematic other, because they see their economic interests as well as cultural values as somewhat lost. The consequence of this perception is the strengthening of cohesion within group against out group and the increase of ethnocentrism.