Hello

[EorzeaWanderer]

To me it’s noun vs. adjective as to whether it sounds strange or not.

Noun (can sound strange in context, as if referring to someone in an overly scientific or detached way, as if they were another species or something, as some have said): “a female”, “females”

Adjective (does not feel strange): “female hyur”, “female players”, “I am female”

Just my take!