Sociology offers us a unique perspective of the past and present, while revealing what future social patterns and trends might hold. Sexuality and gender are topics of interest among many, and with rapid growth and change over the years, it can be overwhelming for those experiencing such rapid changes. My grandmother, born in 1934, is a product of this rapid growth with a personal testimony of how society transformed into what we experience today. Although it is said that biology determines sex, social structure and culture are largely the primary influence on gender, or the expression of culturally appropriate masculine and feminine roles (Brym & Lie 2012, p.165 ). By interviewing my grandmother, I had the opportunity to compare these perspectives across different eras, which gave me in-depth knowledge of this particular aspect of social life. By examining gender social learning, gender socialization, mass media, and body image from past to present, one can begin to understand how these events have occurred in society to enable perspective and understanding. expand your visual field. The question of gender is a long and controversial topic of discussion. Growing up, my grandmother was often surrounded by thick and tedious gender guidelines. He was expected to adhere to typical gender roles, such as a woman's traditional role as caretaker, which included being attentive to the needs of her husband and children. This feeling of belonging to a gender often begins around the age of one, and increases until it becomes a full-fledged feeling of gender between the ages of two and three (Brym & Lie 2012, p .167). Due to the extreme influences this has on oneself, it is often difficult to change our learned gender role...... middle of paper ...... media says it can change opinions of society. The pressure itself has also increased significantly since my grandmother's time, with more social media, a constant reinforcement of gender roles taking place at all times between media and society, once again contributing to the maintaining the ideology of one's sexuality and gender. there are many factors that go into understanding the complexity and vast history of how gender and sexuality arrived at what we perceive today. Transformations are taking place every day throughout society and our perspective is constantly evolving. Our views on gender social learning, 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.