Seed Talks: The History of Mermaids, Sea Spirits & Women

Dive beneath the surface of mermaid lore, tracing their long histories and what they may reveal about wider society. Followed by Q&A.

Why are mermaids, water spirits and sea creatures so often female?

This talk uncovers the deep cultural currents behind mermaid lore: how they reflect society’s fears, desires, and ideas about gender, sexuality, and our relationship with nature. Like the oceans, rivers and lakes they inhabit, mermaids are at once alluring and threatening, monstrous yet divine. Join Dr Deidre Nuttall as she reveals how these timeless beings continue to mesmerise, provoke and illuminate what we think we know about ourselves.