Kat Stratford is the iconic feminist lead of the 90s films 10 Things I Hate About You. She is a driven, badass feminist, who knows exactly what she wants and doesn’t let anyone treat her like crap. She is an icon of 90s films, with a story packed with ups and downs. Through all of this she is relatable, funny, and smart, with a sharp wit and a heartwarming character arc. We can learn many things from Kat Stratford, and here are just a few.
Kat Stratford teaches us to be our own person. She doesn’t listen to or care about the expectations of others, and lives her life the way she pleases. This makes her stand out, often negatively, amongst her peers, but she has a stable comfort in herself and her personality is strong in spite of everything she faces. She doesn’t try to ‘fit in’ as this would jeapordise her own happiness, and she challenges anyone who tries to change her.
Kat Stratford first enters our screens to Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation”, an apt insight into her character. Kat knows that a lot of people have certain negative opinions about her but she doesn’t let them get to her, unlike her sister who enjoys people loving her.
Kat Stratford is an undeniable feminist, who doesn’t care for the patriarchy or the expectations of women. She is strong, badass, and smart, and she doesn’t care who knows it. She speaks out about her opinion and challenges anyone who tries to stand up to her or silence her.
Kat Stratford has an incredibly witty sense of humour, and she is able to find the funny and make jokes in difficult times. This is an important and helpful attribute that we can take from Kat and apply in our own lives.
Kat Stratford knows exactly what she wants and won’t let anyone stand in her way, whether that’s her peers of her father. She is decisive and works towards her goals, and this is an admirable characteristic, and something important that we can learn from her.
Kat Stratford also teaches us a thing or two about love. She teaches us not to waste our time and that there is someone out there for everyone. She meets Patrick, and despite their love having rocky foundations (due to its origins in a bribery) it overcomes these obstacles and promises to be something lasting and true. They open up to each other and reveal the truths behind their hard exteriors.
And finally, Kat Stratford teaches us that it’s okay to be vulnerable and to open up to people and to feel. Kat is hurt by the way Patrick has deceived her, and uses poetry to express this, even crying in front of her class. She breaks down her walls to share this vulnerability and emotion, and this is an important lesson to learn – not to keep everything inside.
To finish, here are some other quotes and scenes from 10 Things I Hate About you with an important message that we can learn from.
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