It's not even that I mind playing as a male character; so many games default to that, it would basically kill gaming if I did. Heck, even in FFXIV I have a relatively high-level alt that is a male character that I play for story and use as a second bank. It's not that I dislike it, just that if I'm getting invested in a story like this, I feel a bit more self-inserted playing as a female. And in a game like Persona where all of your character's dialogue is chosen by you, that sort of feeling extends.

P5 re-release with female option to romance Akechi when pls thx