From Outsider to Outsider: A Study of Iranian Baha’ís’ Identity in Iran and the United States

Negotiating one’s identity is a complex process that becomes complicated when person ascribed an outsider status because of any one identity. Iranian Baha’ís are significantly understudied population who experience status, both in their home country where they persecuted due to animus towards them by the government and religious leaders, United States. They range ways, including through denial education, name-calling, harassment, torture, killing. Using data from 50 in-depth interviews with first-generation Baha’í immigrants, I discuss national identity, importance development collective Iran. Then explore experiences States, navigating cultural differences between immigrants American Baha’ís, spiritual across countries, life experiences. The immigrants’ narratives reaffirm complicate our understandings how religious, national, identities negotiated.