Which term refers to the socially prescribed feminine role?

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

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is femininity, which names the socially prescribed feminine role. It describes the expectations about how women should think, feel, dress, and behave—standards shaped by culture, media, family, and institutions and that can vary across times and places. Feminine expectations are what society routinely associates with being female, making it the precise label for that role. In contrast, masculinity refers to traits linked to men, gender roles is a broader concept covering expected behaviors for all genders, and social norms are general rules guiding behavior in a society, not specific to gender. So femininity best captures the idea of the socially prescribed feminine role.