For as long as there have been role-playing games, there has been a selection of characters and playstyles to choose from. This selection almost always consists of burly fighters such as warriors or berserkers, a more agile ranged class such as rogues or hunters, and a supportive magic class. The magic class can usually be further split to accommodate healers, though sometimes the class may entail a well-balanced mage capable of a strong offensive. However, many times the magic-user is pre-set to serve as the team's healer.
These roles are nearly always gender-divided, stereotyping the classes and pigeonholing them into preconceived notions based on stereotypes. This can be extremely frustrating for gamers who don't fit the mold. Perhaps a female gamer would like to play as a strong female warrior with empowering femininity. Or a male gamer might enjoy playing as a healer, but not as a female or old man priest. The fact that RPG classes have become gendered makes playstyles such as these near impossible to achieve.
Fighter - The Masculine Class
Typically, when thinking of the fighter or warrior class, one imagines characters like Dante from Devil May Cry, or Raphael from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Male characters dominate the fighter class hands-down, but that's not to say there aren't any female fighters in gaming; they just all seem to struggle with their femininity.
Cassandra Pentaghast
Cassandra from Dragon Age may be the brightest shining example of this dilemma. She has beautiful, but very strong features, sexually ambiguous attire, and a haircut that's shorter and more gender-neutral than a lot of male characters nowadays. She is not only strong in appearance but also her personality; ready to fight no matter the cost.
Bioware made the choice to have Cassandra identify as a straight character in the series, seemingly in an attempt to break from the masculine female fighter stereotype. However, the developers still portrayed Cassandra in a very masculine light. Her sexuality doesn't relate to whether she comes across as more or less feminine. Bioware could've done more to have Cassandra express her femininity physically or through her persona. Making Cassandra a straight character while continuing to hamper her femininity just feeds into the fighter stereotype.
Chie Satonaka
Chie from Persona 4 is another good example. Aside from wearing a miniskirt, she is a classic tomboy and comes across rather awkwardly in situations not pertaining to fights or training. There is a bit of plotline where Chie's emotions are incredibly vulnerable, but it happens when everyone involved is showing awkwardness and vulnerability. It's not a specific character moment for her.
There is another bit of dialogue between Chie and the player's character, where Chie freaks out over a bug. The player is given some dialogue options and... wait for it... "It's very feminine." is one of them. What is Chie's reaction to this declaration? Complete denial; femininity is a weakness in her mind.
Rogue - The Androgynous Class
The Rogue class consists of thieves and archers, making it a class based around stealth and ranged combat primarily. Because of this, game developers build characters in this class to be more agile, causing male characters to have a lankier frame and more delicate features. Female characters in this class, however, are still given many tomboyish qualities.
Inigo
Inigo from Fire Emblem doesn't come standard as a thief or assassin, but he still fits the rogue class role as a lanky and slightly feminine character. His back story reveals a shy and reserved past, which his mother helped him overcome by teaching him to talk to girls and how to dance. This resulted in Inigo adapting a rogueish personality with a flair for dancing, which comes across in his battle-style. He wields his sword gracefully like a dancer, and actually becomes a dancer in Fire Emblem Heroes.
Sera
Sera is an elven archer in Dragon Age: Inquisition and she embodies the rogue class in every way. She belongs to a group of rogues known as "Friends of Red Jenny", a sort of Robin Hood-like group, taking authority down a peg and standing in defense of the little guys. She is a strong-willed misfit with her own ideas of what is just. Though not as battle-worn and armor-clad as Cassandra, she still boasts a rough and ready personality. She is not overly masculine, nor does she do much to play up her femininity.
Healers - The Feminine Class
Lastly, there is the Healer class, reserved almost exclusively for female characters and holy father figures. Of any class, game developers seem to have the hardest time veering away from the feminine healer stereotype. That is, without defaulting to a religious basis for the powers.
Most Characters In Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Most women in this game are best suited to the Monk class to start, then can go on to fill the Priest class' supportive role. Not only that, but all female characters seem to start off with the Cure magic. Now, these characters can also choose to go down the path of Mage, which focuses on offensive magic instead. However, the insinuation to choose the supportive role is still very much present.
Linhardt von Hevring is another great example of the developers' insecurities with attributing masculinity to this class. He's a slim framed boy, more apt to be found studying, reading, or taking a mid-day snooze, than honing battle techniques. He's also rather unfond of weapons and blood.
Progress is Made One Step at a Time
All in all, things don't seem to be changing much regarding gender-division amongst class roles in RPGs. But there is some small progress being made. In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, there are fighters like Dedue cropping up. Though still carrying a stern and masculine persona he is a gentle soul, harboring a passion for cooking and housekeeping. Some of the ladies aren't doing to bad for themselves either. With women like Hilda and Bernadetta storming the battlefield while still maintaining soft feminine auras, change is in the air. It'll just take a few more games to get there.