Mermaids and little boys

[AniaR]

Hey folks, Im going to be writing an article specifically about little boys at merMAID birthday parties. (so yup, boys, with ladies in tails! boys with mermen is a different kettle of fish from what I'm trying to look at) I'm doing a bit of academic research for it on gendered activities/toys vs Non, what the science (developmentally) is saying about both, and I'm essentially hoping to show that boys enjoy mermaid parties as much as girls (because a lot of assumptions are made that they either wont, or that it's feminine so some how less valuable an activity for a boy to do etc). That's been my personal experience, but I am trying to do the leg work to back it up.

I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS, but please, for this specific thing I am writing I would like to hear the *experiences* of those of you working as mermaids and what memories you have positive, negative, or neutral of working with boys.

Specifically (but feel free to add and elaborate things)

1. Did you choose to add gendered activities or toys to your entertainment/play (e.g. pirate garb, toys specifically marketed to boys etc)
2. If you did, did you do it for a specific reason? (wanted all kids to have the choice, worried boys wouldnt like mermaids, felt pressured by parents/the industry?)
3. Have boys mainly seemed engaged at your functions? Is it to the same level as the girls? (e.g. are they asking questions, touching your tail, wanting to do things etc)
4. Was the behaviour of the boys different than the girls? (more reserved, more aggressive, disinterested etc)

Or just feel free to tell me a story about How little Billy came to your party and acted like everyone else and wanted sparkles and a pirate hat and just had fun, lol I don't know.

I'm going to be sharing my specific experiences, some studies on the topic (though obviously more generally since there are no journals about mermaid entertainment) , and then Id like to add some quotes from other mermaids.

I'd love your contributions! Thanks!

[Mizuko]

I never really thought about it, but I suppose my routine is pretty gender-less. lol! Or, at least, I've not come into any issues regarding it.
Personal experience, boys are just as engaged if not more so than girls! They ask a lot of questions, and depending on the age they aren't afraid to talk over the other children (haha). Regardless of the gender of the group there are always one or two children who are louder/more forward than the others- its just in my experience more likely to be a boy. I've not had any aggression from boys, just over-excitedness (lol not a word, but the best way to describe it). I cater to both genders, although to be honest when I first started out I was surprised at the interest I got from little boys as I was expecting it to be only girls! When I tell stories I always include both genders, the games we play aren't specifically 'girly', so I haven't had any pressure from parents as of yet. I do talk about my knight friends, and other mermen, and even the little girls love that.
All in all I think I've been 'lucky' not to have to cater either way, if that makes sense? I dont know if its a sign of the changing attitude toward genders, or just that kids will be kids regardless. haha!
(I hope some of this makes sense or is in anyway useful, haha!)

[Mermaid Melanie]

I know exactly what you mean I've done a few mermaid parties where there have been boys and I was worried at first they wouldn't be interested so I decided to offer scuba experience for the kids also so they could mermaid and scuba dive and I set up little hula hoop obstacle courses for them to race in the pool which was good fun I also bring and underwater torpedo to play catch with an I've been thinking of buying some torus pulse guns that shoot bubble rings underwater and playing like a bubble tag game in the pool ! sometimes even the dad's jump in the water for a picture with a mermaid and then the kids follow but I HAVE to have an extra person (David) if I do scuba with all the equipment an safety standards depending in how many kids there are but other than the scuba and photos my parties are pretty girly I guess ! I haven't had any boys want to try the mermaiding yet anyhoo hope this helped ! Xx


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[Mermaid Romy]

I don't know if it counts since I haven't done any events, but I swim at my local pool every week and I have about the same reaction from boys and girls alike C: I've had a boy who just wanted to play tag with me the whole time and a little girl who refused to come too close to me. I've had a boy who thought I was crazy and a girl who was practically climbing on my in excitement. When we first started swimming it was school swim lessons season and I was surprised by the boys who would point excitedly and notify their friends, but it was the girls who leaned away and were a bit weirded out by it all...