Kathleen Mead
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Kathleen Mead (played by Rebecca Haines) is a fictional character from the original Playing With Time television series, Degrassi Junior High. She was introduced as a secondary character who disapproved of school president Stephanie Kaye (played by Nicole Stoffman) and her provocative wardrobe but eventually went on to have a much greater role in the series. She acted as the sour, troubled foil to Caitlin Ryan (played by Stacie Mistysyn) throughout much of the series.
Kathleen got her first real storyline in DJH season two. The episode, "Bottled Up"[1] gives us a glimpse of Kathleen's home-life. We are introduced to Kathleen's alcoholic mother whose behaviour is severely effecting her daughter. Kathleen invites Caitlin, Nancy Kramer (played by Arlene Lott) and Tim O'Connor (played by Keith White) to her house to prepare for a quiz show appearance and is humiliated to find her mother at home and noticeably intoxicated. In a later episode from the third season, "Food For Thought"[2], Kathleen invites Melanie Brodie (played by Sara Ballingall), her best friend throughout much of DJH, to her house to work on a science project. Her mother is, again, drinking heavily and Melanie learns about Kathleen's burgeoning eating disorder by reading her personal diary. Melanie takes pity on Kathleen believing that her image problem is stemming from her problems at home. She confronts Kathleen and tells her to get help. Kathleen is furious that her secret is out and becomes so upset she passes out in the middle of the school hallway.
Kathleen eventually does get counseling, but her problems continue into high school. Kathleen begins dating a boy named Scott (played by Byrd Dickens) in high school. He turns out to be an overly possessive boyfriend and physically assaults Kathleen during a quarrel[3]. Kathleen eventually involves the police and frees herself from Scott. Kathleen is one of the better students at Degrassi. She is often seen competing with Caitlin Ryan in school and, in the DJH episode "Stagefright"[4], Susie Rivera (played by Sarah Charlesworth) tells Caitlin "you always beat her", referring to Kathleen.
Kathleen seemed to have conservative political and social views. Throughout the series she took issue with homosexuality (in the episode "Rumor Has It"[5]), sex before marriage (in the episode "Censored"[6]) and animal rights activism (in the episode "The Whole Truth"[7]). Her sober presence made her unpopular with many of her peers, most notably Caitlin and Rick Munro (played by Craig Driscoll).
Kathleen was also vice president of Degrassi Junior High. She lost the election to Nancy who was the only other presidential candidate. Kathleen was a turbulent addition to the Degrassi landscape and her character was used to explore some of the most dangerous teenage issues that the show tackled.
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