Final answer:
Sociologists view the categories of male and female as an ideal rather than an absolute, recognizing gender as a social construct. The complexity of sex categories and the social construction of gender and sexuality demonstrate that these concepts are more fluid and variable than traditionally thought. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many sociologists believe that the pure categories of male and female are more of an ideal than absolute. This view points towards the understanding that while sex is biologically based, gender is a social construct encompassing the roles, behaviors, and identity that culture assigns to people.
Intersex individuals and those who identify with a different gender than the one assigned at birth demonstrate the fluidity and complexity of both gender and sexuality. This recognizes that biological sex categories can often be less clear-cut than generally presumed and that cultural notions of gender can be highly variable and change over time.
The terms "masculine" and "feminine" refer primarily to a person's gender, which is the culturally constructed roles, behaviors, identities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.
When sociologists study sexuality, they focus on the social construction of sexuality, which is how societal norms define the appropriateness of sexual behaviors, rather than on biological factors. Thus, sexuality is linked to a person's capacity for sexual feelings and is understood within the context of cultural and social practices. The correct option is a.