Subversive behavior to my understanding is the act of NOT conforming to routine or tradition of an upper or superior. In the movie Mona Lisa Smile , an example of the superior is Wellesley  College or as Kathrine proclaims "Wellesley finishing school". The administration of Wellesley expects Ms. Watson to adhere to every traditional teaching method and only lecture based on the syllabus given to her. Ms. Watson is called subversive by Betty due to her teaching methods and seeing as she refused to be the paper cut out she has been expected to be.

Betty's marriage to Spencer was very unhappy. It is revealed throughout the movie that Spencer often leaves Betty alone to be a good little house wife until hes done with his girlfriend. During this period of time things such as affairs, drug or alcohol abuse along with basically any other "dirty laundry" were supposed to be hidden from the world and simply not talked about. Betty's mother is willing to let her relationship with her daughter suffer as long as she is able to keep her squeaky clean Jones name. She does not allow Betty to stay with her to keep anyone from knowing Spencer and Betty are having issues. Betty's mother will do whatever she has to to have a perfectly painted picture of her family . All the while the Jones family most likely has more skeletons in their closets than most families.