Popular notions of masculinity and femininity are described as what?

The correct answer, "gender constructions," refers to the social and cultural processes that shape and define what it means to be masculine or feminine within a given society. These constructions are not inherent or biologically determined but are built through social interactions, media representations, and historical contexts.

By understanding gender as a construction, one can see how various attributes, behaviors, and expectations are assigned to individuals based on their gender, influencing everything from personal identity to societal roles. This perspective recognizes that gender is fluid and can change over time and across different cultures.

The other options relate to concepts that overlap with gender constructions but are not as accurately described in this context. For instance, "gender expectations" pertains to the anticipated behaviors linked to one's gender, while "gender roles" focus specifically on the roles assigned to individuals within social and familial contexts. "Gender norms" deals with accepted standards of behavior, which can be influenced by constructions but do not encompass the broader, more dynamic processes of how gender identities are formed and understood in society.