I've always really liked OCs but i remember back then that so many of the OCs I (let myself?) got most invested in back then were guys because I felt like because they were guys and I was (or identified as) a girl that it took some of the potential for being mocked off me because it felt like more female OCs were labeled 'mary sues' and OCs were so often assumed to be a barely disguised insert of the creator , so with a male OC I could at least be like "see he is OBVIOUSLY very different from me"

Nowadays I have more variety of OCs and I care less about what people might say but also just feel like it's safer. Also I'm kind of getting into more of my "girls love" era so.. lol. yeah.