I am a male. Whenever play any sort of game that allows character creation I make two types of characters. The first is my self insert avatar, the toon that i design to look like me (and, btw, Saints Row 2 wins the award for best character creation system ever, as I was able to make my char look EXACTLY like me in both face and body type). The second is a female. I always make female characters. I think it stems from an interest in gender roles, the subverting of said roles and the exploration the female condition. In games that allow deep role playing I even like to attempt to put myself in the feminine mindset of the character. I'd like to think it has, in some small way, helped me understand, empathize with and respect the women in my own life. Video games are a great way to get outside yourself and into someone else's head space. I encourage pushing the boundaries of your own comfort zones whenever possible. It has helped me come to realize there are more ways of thought than just my own. I think a lot of this "GamerGate" nonsense and basic hostility towards women in game culture would disappear if everyone practiced this.