Which is an example of a "soft" form of affirmative action?

a. giving preference to job applicants of color, but not considering gender in evaluating applications
b. taking into consideration the socioeconomic status of college applicants, but not their racial background
c. providing outreach programs intended to recruit applicants from underrepresented groups
d. establishing a firm quota stating that 50 percent of all new employees at a firm must be female

c