The concept that refers to the socially expected mannerisms and behaviors associated with being female is

• A. Masculinity
• B. Gender norms
• C. Femininity
• D. Social roles

Answer: (C)

Femininity denotes the socially expected mannerisms and behaviors associated with being female. It captures how societies teach and sanction women to act, dress, speak, and interact in ways deemed appropriate for women, beyond biology. Masculinity describes traits linked to men, while gender norms are the broader expectations for behavior across all genders, of which femininity is the female-specific expression. Social roles refer to the positions people occupy (like mother or caregiver) and the duties that come with them, not the particular behaviors themselves. So the term that best fits the prompt is femininity.