Naru wanting to be more than she is and proving people wrong isn't a girl fighting the patriarchy thing, it's a human thing especially in young adulthood. And yes, Taabe admits that what he said previously in the movie about her failing against the cat was incorrect. She clearly injured it and he took that advantage later on when he confronted it alone. In fact, the only reason he was probably even able to carry her home was because it was so injured. When he gives her props initially he's being sincere and in the moment, it's not until Naru becomes bitter in his moment of celebration that he cuts her down, probably because he felt her being sour when the entire tribe was celebrating was inappropriate.
