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Isabella Sanchez

Storer

English 3 Honors

March 12, 2020

Feminist of the 21st Century

Many movies follow the typical “Hollywood pattern”: they provide no greater meaning,

no deeper purpose than to entertain. However, this is not the case in 10 Things I Hate About You,

directed by Gil Junger. The movie breaks down the idea of the liberated woman of the 21st

century. Bianca Stratford, a pretty and popular girl is in a dilemma since her father forbids her
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from dating until her unpopular, rebellious, boy-hating older sister Kat gets a boyfriend of her

own. Cameron, a new student quickly becomes smitten with Bianca and desperately attempts to

set Kat up with Patrick Verona with another rebel and outsider. The film, 10 Things I Hate

About You is seen as a stepping stone for teenage feminism because the main character, Kat, is
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unwilling to be objectified by men when she seems so unaffected by her classmates' disdain for

her unwillingness to play a part of society’s social standards, she confronts the men who
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disrespect her, and she focuses on her education rather than on finding a man.

Kat Stratford learned how to cope with the dreadful looks and faces that she received

from others throughout her high school career. This is first seen in the opening scene of the

motion picture. There is a convertible filled with girls listening to music all dressed up in their
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cropped tops and skirts, and then Kat stops next to them listening to the punk rock band Bikini

Kill, and in a way admires the faces these girls make at her. Kat is seen as an outsider and loser

just because she does not fit in with the other girls. She is seen differently because of the way she

dresses, the music she listens to, the car she drives, and the way she interacts with boys. It is
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encouraging for the young women who watch this film to see how she overcomes her obstacles

and makes light of the situation. She sends the message that it is okay to be different and that one

does not have to follow the same path as everyone else. She shares this perspective when she is

having a heart-to-heart conversation with her younger sister Bianca:

“You forget, I don’t care what people think.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t. You don’t always have to be who they want you to be you know.” (Junger

00:25:18- 00:25:28).

Bianca asks Kat if she has every considered a new look because if she actually put some effort

in, she could potentially have a boyfriend. Kat simply laughs in her face and flaunts that she does

not care how others view her. She understands that there is no point in caring about how the boys

judge her and expect her to act. The only thing that is really important is for her to be confident

and happy with herself. Her confidence is seen when she stands up for herself and what she

believes in.

It is hard to stand up for one’s beliefs especially when they must stand up against a

position of power, yet Kat makes it look effortless. Joey Donner, Padua Stadium High School’s
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playboy, model, and unfortunately the school’s most popular kid, is Kat’s biggest bully.

Throughout the movie Joey repeatedly antagonizes and insults Kat and while most would just

stay quiet, she always retaliates. In the beginning of the film, the audience is first introduced to

Joey when he calls Kat out in front of the whole class and calls her a “bitter, self-righteous hag

who has no friends.” Kat responds to this statement by saying, “I guess in this society, being

male and an a**hole makes you worthy of our time” (Junger 00:06:13-00:06:17). Kat utilizes her

intelligence and wit to defend herself, which also exemplifies her strength as a female. While the
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class talked about Hemingway, Kat saw the opportunity to defend herself and what she believes

in, she made a factual statement without letting anyone interfere with her train of thought or

personal beliefs. By saying this, she associated both Hemingway and Joey and used it as a way

to move on and question her teacher’s choices:

“What about Sylvia Plath, or Charlotte Bronte or Simone de Beauvoir?”

“What’d I miss?”

“The oppressive patriarchal values that dictate our education” (Junger 00:06:19-

00:06:30).

Kat questions her teacher as to why all of the books that they are reading are from men. She

blames this on the oppressive patriarchal values that dictate her education, and she will not stand

for it. Knowing that she will be punished, she still points out the problem. Ultimately, her teacher

takes the easy way out of the situation and kicks Kat out of class. This shows the younger

generations that are growing up watching this movie that it is important to stay true to one’s self

and what they believe in. As opposed to being obsessed with the affections of men, Kat decides

to focus her attention on her academics and personal future.

Unlike other girls, Kat was eager to get out of Seattle and start her life away from home.

Kat’s dream school was Sarah Lawrence. After applying against her father’s wishes, she is

accepted:

“Hey, what’s this? It says Sarah Lawrence.”

“I got in! I got in!”

“Uh, honey, that’s great, but isn’t Sarah Lawrence on the other side of the country?”

(Junger 00:13:25-00:13:40).
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Kat is beyond excited as she receives the news that she got into her dream school. It is obvious

that Kat cares greatly about her education. She plans to create a future for herself instead of just

waiting around for a man to sweep her off her feet. As her father sees this, he is quick to jump in

and try to change her mind. He wants to keep her close to home:

“I thought we decided you were going to stay here and go to school. ‘U-Dub’ like me. Be

a Husky.”

“No, you decided” (Junger 00:13:43-00:13:50).

Kat responds to their “mutual” decision by claiming that she had nothing to do with it. She

acknowledged her fathers input but reminds him that this is her future they are talking about, not

his and ultimately the decision falls upon her. Viewers should look up to her because she does

not let anyone stand in her way of her future and education.

Kat Stratford helped provide a path for the young feminists of the 21st century. This path

was carved by her reluctance to be objectified by men when she looks so unconcerned by her

classmates’ disdain for her aversion to playing along with society’s standards. She does this by

standing up for herself and what she believed in, and by showing greater concern for her

education rather than on finding a man. It is safe to say that Kat motivated many young women

such as her sister to refocus their attentions on more substantial goals and to help them develop

into strong young women.

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Works Cited

Junger, Gil, Director. 10 Things I Hate About You. Touchstone Pictures, 1999.