Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Department
Transformative Action in Education
First Advisor
Dr. Karen Sarafian
First Committee Member
Dr. Qingwen Dong
Second Committee Member
Dr. Jennifer Geiger
Abstract
This study explores how body image is represented in Disney’s The Little Mermaid across its 1989 animated film and the 2019 and 2023 adaptations. Grounded in Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory, the research examines how repeated media exposure shapes audience perceptions of morality, beauty, and identity—particularly through the portrayal of body size. Using a triangulated qualitative approach—reflexive journaling, content analysis, and survey responses—the study reveals consistent patterns: thin characters are depicted as virtuous, desirable, and heroic, while larger-bodied characters are often cast as villainous, comedic, or morally flawed. These associations were recognized by participants across all methods and confirmed through both reflective interpretation and implicit assumptions. Findings indicate that even critically engaged viewers internalize body-based moral coding, reflecting the powerful influence of repeated symbolic messaging in children’s media. The study calls for more inclusive storytelling that challenges normative body standards and highlights the need for media literacy education to help audiences recognize and question the underlying messages in popular culture.
Pages
243
Recommended Citation
Chatelain, Megan. (2025). The Power of Presence: Body Image in Disney's The Little Mermaid. University of the Pacific, Dissertation. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/4294
Included in
Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Educational Technology Commons, Mass Communication Commons
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