In both, “Snow White” and “The Three Little Gnomes in the Forest” (in the Grimms book), the dwarf/gnomes expect Snow White to do things for them without question.
In “Snow White”, she is made to do chores in exchange for food and a roof over her head. This is pretty reasonable. The gnomes in “The Three Little Gnomes in the Forest” seem much more arrogant and demanding. She has only a small piece of bread to eat and upon meeting them, they demand she share it with them. They then demand that she sweep their back porch. After Snow White does these things without question, they bestow gifts upon her for being “so polite and kind”. Later, the other daughter is cursed after she refuses to take orders from the gnomes. She tells them, “Do your own sweeping! I’m not your maid.” (Exactly what I would have said). They describe Snow White as “obedient” and the woman’s daughter as “wicked”. Snow White’s role in the “Snow White” tale is very reminiscent of the old-fashioned housewife stereotype. She has to have the dwarves’ dinner ready and waiting for them when they return.
In this way, the dwarves/gnomes represent the patriarchy. Women are expected to be subservient and meek, performing all tasks asked of them by men, even complete strangers. If you dare to question them or stand up for yourself, you are “wicked” and “greedy”.
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This is an interesting point that I hadn't thought of when reading the stories. I think the way the dwarves demand that Snow White clean for them is not supposed to be as important as the fact that she is a "good girl" who does what they ask immediately. The dwarves are just a frame on which Snow White's domesticity and wonderfullness can be showcased. The dwarves of Disney's movie are lovable and sweet (even grumpy) and don't make demands of Snow White. She voluntarily cleans up their house and cooks for them because she sees the sorry state their house is in. In the Disney version then, the dwarves don't represent the patriarchy like they do in the Grimm's stories. In both cases, Snow White's obedience and goodness is highlighted, but in Disney's version the demanding male figure is removed for a more modern audience.
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