At the beginning of the taming of the shrew, Katherina is very independent Ian’s is able to stand up for herself. I know this because when Petruchio is trying to take her she is ablue to respond in a very smart manner and is very able to stand up to herself.

Come, come, you wasp, i’ faith you are too angry.
KATH.
If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
PET.
My remedy is then to pluck it out.
KATH.
Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.
PET.
Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting?
In his tail.
KATH.
In his tongue.
PET.
Whose tongue?
KATH.
Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.
PET.
What, with my tongue in your tail?

In this part of the play you can see that katherina has out smarted petruchio and left him thinking about what just happened. This is how katherina would generally deal with these argumental situations.she would take the comment said and use it against the person saying the comment. In this case petruchio says “come, come, you wasp, i’faith you are too angry”. This is Petruchio saying to katerina that she is too angry. She replies to this by saying  “if I be waspish, best beware my sting”. She says this as a reaction to Patruchio’s statement. This means the if she’s angry you should be careful as she might hurt you, as thats what a sting does. This is a typical example of how katerina will take comments said to her and twist it as a counter attack to the person, in this case, petruchio. This is just one example of how katharina would be able to protect herself.

when petruchio insults, he doesnt do what katherina does. the difference is that katherina uses a comment that was said against the person that said it. Petruchio was insulting because he can as he is taking taming katherina as a game.

PET.
You peasant swain, you whoreson malt-horse drudge!
Did I not bid thee meet me in the park,
And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?