Mermaiding as a Form of Marine Devotion: a Case Study of a Mermaid School in Borocay, Philippines

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aut.relation.endpage249
aut.relation.issue2en_NZ
aut.relation.journalShima : The International Journal of Research into Island Culturesen_NZ
aut.relation.startpage231
aut.relation.volume18en_NZ
aut.researcherLueck, Michael
dc.contributor.authorPorter, BAen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorLueck, Men_NZ
dc.date.accessioned2018-10-31T01:14:03Z
dc.date.available2018-10-31T01:14:03Z
dc.date.copyright2018-08-12en_NZ
dc.date.issued2018-08-12en_NZ
dc.description.abstractMermaiding, the practice of wearing a mermaid tail and/or costume, and often swimming in costume, began in the mid-20th Century and has since grown into a global phenomenon. Despite its increasing popularity, there appears to be no research exploring mermaiding as a tourism activity. Consequently, this is the first study exploring the motivations and experiences of mermaid tourists, employing a case study approach at a mermaid school on the island of Boracay in the Philippines. Semi-structured interviews with one male and eight females, including an instructor/owner, revealed three major themes – fantasy, coastal and marine environment and the marine “other” – with a further overlapping of three core subthemes – power, beauty and hedonism. These subthemes helped explain the motivations to partake in such activities, which included being a waterperson, mythology, novelty and marine conservation. Despite a range of nationalities among the respondents (Brazil, Germany, New Zealand, United States, Philippines and Sweden), it is suggested that more extensive research on mermaiding be undertaken, especially at various locations around the globe.
dc.identifier.citationShima, Volume 12 (2), pp. 231-249.
dc.identifier.doi10.21463/shima.12.2.18en_NZ
dc.identifier.issn1834-6049en_NZ
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/11919
dc.publisherMacquarie Universityen_NZ
dc.relation.urihttp://www.shimajournal.org/issues.php#v12n2
dc.rightsThe journal is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Articles accepted for publication in Shima may be posted in open access repositories and/or on author’s personal research pages upon completion of the journal’s proofing processes in the form supplied to the authors (and identified as forthcoming).
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccessen_NZ
dc.subjectMertourism; Human-aquatic relationships; Mermaids; Coastal and marine tourism; Boracay; Philippines
dc.titleMermaiding as a Form of Marine Devotion: a Case Study of a Mermaid School in Borocay, Philippinesen_NZ
dc.typeJournal Article
pubs.elements-id348420
pubs.organisational-data/AUT
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Culture & Society
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Culture & Society/Hospitality & Tourism
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Culture & Society/Hospitality & Tourism/PBRF - review
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Culture & Society/Hospitality & Tourism/Tourism & Event Management
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF Reviewers
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF Reviewers/PBRF Reviewers - Culture and Society
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF Reviewers/PBRF Reviewers - Culture and Society/Hospitality and Tourism - PBRF Reviewers
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Culture and Society
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Culture and Society/Hospitality and Tourism
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