Final answer:
The answer to the student's question is a) Gender identity, which encompasses the psychological and sociocultural aspects of being male or female. Gender refers to social roles based on biological sex categories and should not be confused with sexual orientation or biological sex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender refers to the psychological and sociocultural meanings added to the biological state of being male or female. Hence, the correct answer to the student's question is a) Gender identity. Gender identity involves a personal sense of one's gender which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. It encompasses how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves.
For instance, the terms "masculine" and "feminine" typically refer to a person's b) gender, not necessarily their biological sex. Similarly, sociologists associate sexuality with d) a person's capacity for sexual feelings, rather than just biological factors or specific sexual orientations like heterosexuality or homosexuality.
Often, people use "female" and "male" interchangeably to describe gender identity as well as biological sex, however, these are distinct concepts. Biological sex is determined by physical characteristics (like chromosomes and reproductive organs), while gender is shaped by cultural and societal norms.
It's important to note that gender identity is different from sexual orientation, which is about who a person is attracted to, not their gender presentation or role. An individual who identifies with a gender different from their biological sex may be referred to as transgender, where one has a strong emotional and psychological connection to the societal roles and traits of a different gender.