All things being equal, I generally choose to play as a female character.
First, because it's something different. I'm not looking to play a heroic version of myself, I want to play a role and create a character that is someone else. I feel like I'm more free when envisioning a female character.
Female characters typically fit my playstyle, as well. I highly favor stealth and/or ranged. I like speed and agility. Snipers, thieves, assassins, those are usually my first choices. I really like the idea of characters who are far more deadly than they look. I almost never go with the "badass" or "former soldier" options in any kind of character creation tool, male or female.
And, yes, I admit it, I prefer looking at a female character, especially in game with a lot of outfit customization. I love having different outfits in games, it's a major draw with mods for Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
