What does Gender Identity refer to?

Gender identity refers to an individual's personal sense of their own gender, which can align with or differ from the sex they were assigned at birth. While gender identity is influenced by cultural expectations, it is a broader concept than merely behavioral expectations about what it means to be male or female.

The correct answer highlights the significance of cultural expectations surrounding gender roles and behaviors, emphasizing that these societal constructs play a crucial role in shaping how individuals experience and express their gender identity. Understanding gender identity involves recognizing that it is distinct from biological sex and that individuals may identify with a gender that does not conform to traditional norms or biological classifications.

The other options suggest different aspects of gender: biological sex, sexuality expression, and limited societal roles, but they do not fully capture the essence of gender identity, which is more nuanced and personally defined.