Do you have an equal balance of male or female characters in your novel? I have eight characters in my novel, which I believe is fine for historical fantasy. Four are male and four are female. The protaganist is male.
What influenced the sex of your characters?
I haven't written enough to say I choose either for a particular reason. I think I leave it to chance and see which character I prefer.
But to be honest I've only attempted short stories with a 3000word max. My female MCs have been suitable to me, but the last was commented on as being too masculine, which wasn't my intent.
I think a MC holds many attributes which can be interpreted differently, but the character's personality is unique to them and should set them out in that way, which hopefully I can stick to with something longer? :-)
Mine is a Female, I can't remember the reason why, she just ended up female
Due to period and situation my characters are mostly male. What I found interesting, though, was the female 'leads' in the first two stories were both strong women, though very different in character. The first was tomboy-ish and the second instigated an affair.
What that says about me I've no idea ;)