I'm generally always a female in serious games. Males are usually bulky passed exaggeration and female models tend to have more interesting aesthetics pieces. It's also more natural for me to invest in a different gender. I think people find it odd when you play as the opposite gender because they see their character as an avatar or a representation of themselves. I don't see it as me in anyway if I'm playing as a female, but rather a character I've created who I'm going on a journey with. I do realize that some people take it further than that though, especially in dating sims.