Didion's love for John Wayne teaches her a lot about being a woman.  She makes an effort to please him by being womanly.  Wayne is the stereotypical manly man, he's a tough guy who grew up in a tough place.  He embodies everything that women, or at least Didion, look for in a man.  The gender roles follow the stereotypes of both men and women.

I would say that the internet had the most significant impact on my life, mostly the website Reddit.  Reddit has helped me discover my love for science and math.  I've learned many life lessons through the stories of other people's experiences.