Did it matter at all whether our Shepard was Male or Female?

Haven't seen it matter either and I hope it only does in so far as people who might mention him/her in the future use propper (note: No, I don't believe in more genders than two!) pronouns etc. (goes back to the argument: I don't want a female hero when playing female Shep, I want a hero that happens to be female (same for male) - no different treatment etc. (like "You're a women, we can't take you seriously" or "Your a man, you can't understand emotions!" or something like that, IMHO humanity should have solved those issues by then, loudmouthed butch lesbian look alike feminsts shouldn't exist anymore etc.))

greetings LAX