Married to the sea: The Norwegian Mermaid Association 1964-1989

Speaker: Professor Stig Tenold, NHH Norwegian School of Economics

This talk looks at the lives and challenges of women married to seafarers. Professor Stig Tenold uses archival data and interviews to explore the establishment, growth, decline and dissolution of the Norwegian Mermaid Association (Norges Havfrueforbund), an organisation of seamen’s wives. From its establishment in 1964 until it folded in 1989, the association served two functions. The local chapters were meeting places for seafarers’ wives, playing an important social role and helping them structure daily life. At the national level, the Norwegian Mermaid Association gave seafarer families a voice in the public debate, and the organisation became recognised as an interest group in questions of seafaring policy. The presentation provides an insight into the lives, concerns and politics of seamen’s wives. Towards the end, there will be a brief comparison with a similar association in the UK.

About the speaker

Stig Tenold is Professor of Economic History and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at NHH – The Norwegian School of Economics. He is also affiliated with Bergen Maritime Museum, where he is currently writing the sixth volume of Bergen og sjøfarten, the history of Bergen shipping. His main research is within the field of contemporary maritime history, both from an economic history and from a business history angle. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of the two leading maritime history journals – The International Journal of Maritime History and Mariner's Mirror – and one of two editors of the book series Palgrave Studies in Maritime Economics.

This King's Maritime History Seminar will be held online and in person. Please register through Eventbrite.