Final answer:
D) Northern Europe ranks lowest on Masculinity according to Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions, due to its strong egalitarian ideals and emphasis on equality and quality of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The region that ranks lowest on Masculinity among the options given (Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, and Northern Europe) is Northern Europe. In the context of Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, masculinity refers to the preference in society for achievement, heroism, assertiveness, and material rewards for success. Northern Europe, especially countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, are known for having strong egalitarian ideals, emphasizing equality, nurturing, and quality of life over traditional masculine values of competition and dominance. This contrasts with Southern and Eastern Europe, where cultural norms may be aligned more traditionally with Hofstede's masculinity criteria.