Sociology provides us with a unique perspective on the past and present, while revealing what future social patterns and trends may hold. Sexuality and gender have been topics of interest among many, and with rapid growth and change over the years, they can prove overwhelming for those experiencing such rapid changes. My grandmother, born in 1934, is the product of this rapid growth with a personal testimony of how society transformed into what is experienced today. Although biology is claimed to determine sex, social structure and culture are largely the primary influence on gender, or the expression of culturally appropriate male and female roles (Brym & Lie 2012, p.165). Through the interview with my grandmother I had access to the comparison of these perspectives in different eras, providing me with complete knowledge on this particular aspect of social life. By examining social learning about gender, gender socialization, mass media, and body image from the past to the present, one can begin to break down how these have occurred in society for the opportunity to take a step back and widen your field of vision. Social learning of the genre is a long and debated course of discussion. Growing up, my grandmother was often surrounded by thick, boring gender guidelines. She was expected to adhere to typical gender roles, such as women filling the traditional caretaker role, which involved being on hand for the needs of her husband and children. This sense of one's gender often begins around the age of one, increasing to a complete sense of gender between the ages of two and three (Brym & Lie 2012, p.167). Due to the extreme influences this has on ourselves, it is often difficult to change the gender role we have learned... middle of paper... media says it can change society's opinions. The pressure itself has also increased dramatically since my grandmother's time, with the rise of social media there is a constant strengthening of gender roles between the media and society all the time, once again contributing to the maintenance of the ideology of one's sexuality and gender. There are many factors that contribute to understanding the complexity and vast past of how gender and sexuality got to what it is perceived today. Transformations happen every day throughout society and our perspective is constantly evolving. Our views on social learning about gender, gender socialization, mass media, and body image from past to present are just a small example of a part of our social life that has undergone this change. Works Cited Brym, Robert and Lie, John ( 2012), SOC+, Toronto, Nelson.