Fictional Family Analysis Using Conflict Theory Lens

In the movie 10 Things I Hate About You, the Stratford family appears to be run by a single parent of two very different daughters. Their father seems to have good intentions about how he runs the house. However, when this family is viewed through the Conflict Theory lens, the family is built off power, control, and inequality, where not everybody gets a say in what happens around the house. Conflict Theory suggests that a family can be compared to a mini social system where the kids are shaped by power structures and authority. Some have more authority and resources than others, in a family. In the Stratford household, Walter Stratford holds this authority and uses it to control his daughters’ behaviors, specifically their dating lives and Kat’s goal to go to her dream college. His daughters, Kat and Bianca, lack autonomy and must adapt to their father’s rules, which stem from his fears and values. Their family can be described as oppressive rather than functional, through the Conflict Theory lens. Walter Stratford controls resources and decisions, restricts his daughters’ autonomy, and creates ongoing conflict within the family.

In the Stratford Family, Walter Stratford holds the majority of the power and makes some of the most important decisions. He has a rule that Bianca cannot date until Kat does. Kat is a very independent character, and her father has a perception of her that she is so independent that she won’t want to date. This rule makes Bianca upset because of how Kat is perceived. This also relates to the “looking-glass self” shown in the Interactionist Audit. Walter uses his authority and information that he knows about his daughters to control what they do. Kat also wants to go to Sarah Lawrence College, and her father strongly protested against her going so far away. He is an OB-GYN and has an obsession over protecting his daughters from teenage boys and pregnancy. His fear is not being able to supervise Kat if she is far away. Walter’s fear of his daughters getting involved with boys prevents them from achieving their goals and experiencing life on their own. Both daughters have a plan for themselves, especially Kat, who wants to be successful and is sure of her goals and success. Although Kat is very sure of herself and does not need to have a romantic relationship, Walter is still worried about not being able to monitor her as she becomes an adult. Kat has been accepted into the college, and they are a wealthy family, so that was never an issue. Walter is in charge of the money and therefore gets the final decision on whether she goes or not. He controls the resources and makes decisions.

Kat lacks autonomy, but often resists her father’s authority by rejecting his rules and expectations. Her goal of going to Sarah Lawrence College represents how she wants independence and control over her future. She very clearly wants to escape the oppressive family structure and gain autonomy. Dating is very important to her sister, Bianca, and she doesn’t understand why her father is so protective because her goals in a relationship, most likely, don’t align with what he believes her goals are. Both daughters break through their “looking-glass self” by rejecting the identities imposed on them and gaining autonomy. They recognize the oppression and attempt to rebel against their father. Their father is upset, but eventually gives into what should have been a right all along. Kat opens up and goes to prom with Bianca after being told that they weren’t allowed to go. Kat is also allowed, finally, to go to her dream college. Kat shocks her father and Bianca by being unlike how her father views her. This is done partially for Bianca’s sake and their relationship as sisters. She realizes how important things like dating and prom are to Bianca and has deep conversations explaining the dangers that her father didn’t. Walter made rules and decisions without having conversations to explain and express boundaries. Kat and Bianca gained autonomy after recognizing that they didn’t have it because of their father’s concerns.

Kat and Bianca’s father caused conflict and resentment in the family. His rules of Bianca not being able to date caused her resentment towards her father and sister. She didn’t understand the rule and recognized that the rule was a lose-lose for her. Their school knowing their father’s rule caused other students to get involved, trying to help Bianca be able to date by finding Kat somebody. In the end, it worked. Walter’s rule did the opposite of what he had intended. He used Kat’s introverted behavior against her, and it made Bianca more upset with the way Kat has always been. The sisters already had conflict because of them being total opposites, but their father bringing attention to the fact that Kat is different made it worse. Walter also always expected Kat to do something wrong and saw Bianca as the perfect daughter that she presented herself to be. Kat, not being able to go to her dream college, also caused conflict between her and her father. She knows her intentions at the school, and it is to better her future. Kat feels held back by her father. Walter’s lack of communication is the main cause of conflict between him and his daughters. Boundaries are important in a family, but so are clear explanations as to why the boundaries are in place. This can reduce resentment in the family. That is what I would change in this family’s script to help their family function and strive. Walter could also do a better job at limiting projection of his own concerns onto his daughters and trust their words, especially when he already has a clear vision of how his daughters are.

The Stratford family in 10 Things I Hate About You is a good example of an oppressive family that revolves around authority and control over resources and decisions, has a restriction of autonomy, and has ongoing conflicts between the family. Although the family gets better at working together near the end, the family lacks some important skills. Walter, being an only parent, has his concerns for his daughters and they’re projected onto them with dumb rules and control. These rules would be more effective with a conversation, assuring that everybody understands why they are in place. Walter could also put his concerns aside and focus more on trusting his daughters and understanding their values in life. A good family adapts to their children’s behaviors, needs, and values. That is how a functional family can succeed. All needs should be met, and wants can be considered. Everything works out at the end of the movie when they learn to compromise and trust one another.