I thought it was a good read, even if I don't agree with all of it. Like the author mentions trying to be likeable and sweet because she was playing a female character because those are the social expectations on women. She said when she plays a man, she felt more free to pick different options.

I try to be that character because it's who I try to be in real life and it's who I try to be in game when playing both male and female protagonists. I've played plenty of male characters and I choose responses to try and be likeable and sweet because I just want to make people happy. And for me personally, that has less to do with being female and more to do with being mistreated growing up and never wanting others to be made to feel like crap like I was. When I'm playing, I'll often say the nicer, more comforting things because I think it's just a nicer thing to do. The only thing I've been rude on his with the french exchange student because I find him creepy as all heck and that's where my line is drawn.

I've often wasted my free days spending time with someone I didn't want to (when I would rather be doing something else) because they called and I have a hard time saying no to people.

That isn't to say that some women don't face that issue when playing a female protagonist (obviously the author does) or that some of these issues don't exist, but from my own personal experience playing games, I find it easier to play a female, whereas the author seems to find it more challenging.

Also her spot on the tension of being leader vs Junpei, while real issues exist in the world as far as female authority go and how well they're respected, I didn't feel it boil down to a gender issue in this game. I got the impression Junpei would have been threatened either way because he feels so insignificant. Meanwhile the other males, like Akihiko, have no problem with me being a leader and show no disrespect towards having a woman leader.

This isn't to minimize actual gender issues, which do exist obviously, just comparing our different view points when playing the game. I haven't felt the same issues or pressure by playing a female. It is kind of bum that in a lot of dating sims, you'll only be able to play as a male or as a female with LESS romantic options. I am disappointed by that.