Final answer:
Laws and policies are not neutral but reflect societal assumptions about identities, impacting different groups in various ways, with historical and contemporary examples of discrimination based on race, gender, and sexuality. option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
Laws and policies often reflect assumptions about identities, impacting various groups differently. Historical examples include Jim Crow laws and disparities in incarceration rates among racial minorities. Gender norms and policies have previously precluded women from voting or holding certain jobs, affecting their social and economic status. The introduction of same-sex marriage reflects a legal recognition of LGBTQ+ rights, which challenge previous normative assumptions about family and sexuality. Notably, legal protections such as those stemming from Civil Rights legislation, including protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, indicate progress toward inclusiveness, though intersectionality reminds us that identities are complex and cannot be addressed through a singular lens. Government institutions and the judiciary play crucial roles in challenging or perpetuating such norms that become embedded in law and policy, showing that laws are not neutral and do reflect society's assumptions about identities.