Violence

Murder

Weapons

The Labyrinth

Castration

Hormones

Madness

Mothering

Stereotypes

Gender and behavior in The Wasp Factory

The Wasp Factory abounds with behaviors which are linked to sexual stereotypes, gender stereotypes. In order to discuss this in relation to Wasp Factory it may be useful to outline what are generally considered to be stereotypical behaviors.

Aggression and violence are considered stereotypical behavior of men. This seems to be not just what men do but who they are. This is not to say that all men are aggressive and all women pacific. This is clearly not the case. There are several possible assumptions about the nature of violence and male stereotypes.

• Men may be different from women biologically; they may have different brain structures.
• Men have higher levels of testosterone which might make them aggressive.
• Aggression in males has been selected for in evolutionary terms - because it in some way makes them 'desirable' and increases breeding options.
• Aggression is negative for females or infant survival and so suppressed or bred out.