Snow White Blog

Okay, first of all, I would like to know if Walt Disney was on something when he created the scene when Snow White runs through the woods and all kinds of crazy monsters are attacking her! I remember as a child being terrified of that part, and I can see why! But I digress...

Re-watching Snow White for the first time in so many years was quite an experience. I actually remembered the beginning part of the film so well, that it felt as if I had watched it just yesterday. I even remembered all of the words to Snow White's first song! What I did not notice as a child was how incredibly sexist this film is and how prominent gender roles are. Snow White was your typical idealistic woman who cleaned house, fluffed her hair, fixed her dress, picked flowers, etc... The prince was a manly man that rides around on his horse all of the time (seriously, does he ever do anything else but sing and ride his horse?), and rescues the helpless woman who cannot live (literally and figuratively) without him. And of course, the Seven Dwarfs are your typical men who do not do any housework, cannot cook for themselves, and do "man's work" all day. It was actually quite disturbing to see what Disney was filling my head with when I was young and impressionable.

I also noticed how the film reflected the time that it was made in. Snow White's short, curly hairstyle, singing voice, and female stereotypes were typical in the late 1930's. Also the style of the music in the film was reminiscent of composers like Irving Berlin and Cole Porter (both extremely popular during the late 1930's). These are just a few of the things I noticed that represented the time that Snow White was created.

Although I still love this film, it was not the same magic that I experienced when I was a child. I am an extremely strong, independent woman and I quite insulted at how they portrayed Snow White and her step-mother. Apparently women either have to be happy little housewives or vain and a total bitch (for lack of a better term!HA!). Also, can someone tell me where I can find a handsome guy who randomly rides up on a white horse and beautifully sings to me? Because I've been waiting for one of those since I was about 5 years old, and it still has not happened...