Although critics might see soap operas as brainwashing their viewers to accept a particular version of gender roles, some sociologists would insist that the people who produce soap operas actually have to be constantly attentive to the desires of their audience and are to some extent responding to the audience. If you believe this, then you probably see soap opera viewers as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phrase "constantly attentive to the desires of their audience" suggests that the soap opera viewers are an active audience, which means they are not passive and have agency in their relationship with media. Therefore, the best choice is D, "an active audience."

Although Critics Might See Soap Operas as Brainwashing Their Viewers