As probably a generic "dude" as one can be, I like playing female characters because it gives me a chance to be someone I'm not. I play games to remove myself from the real world for a bit, and playing a male character feels too much like self-insertion.

It's weird, but being forced into playing from a "self" perspective I find to be less enjoyable. I like being told a story, and getting to participate in it, but I dont like when the story feels like it's supposed to be about myself, rather than a character.