I am a female and my avatar is a female because people just treat different genders differently and I prefer to be treated as a woman.
An anecdotal example, I was in the headquarter of an
SL Miss contest as a male. One of the finalists was there with her friend and Miss Finalist asked her friend in public chat about the meaning of "Congeniality". Friend said she didn't know. I answered her in chat as well but they studiously ignored me. Just in case I'd take a "thanks
" as an excuse to send a friendship request, I guess.