I used to feel awkward about it during other games because sometimes there was gender specific classes and the female class would always be the stronger and smarter decision but here comes random family members and little cousins and nephews "why are you playing as a girl". It wasn't till recently that I started flipping people off whenever they ask me that question. If I had to say as an exact answer to my choice to play a female character it's because video games made women some of the most badass characters in any game. We have the sirens in borderlands we have bayonetta Lara croft of tomb raider fem shep of mass effect the list goes on.