The Point of Antigone Being a Girl In My Opinion

In the play Antigone we see our main character being a woman in Antigone, but what is Sophocles point of doing this in the play. I believe this was done to put more of an us against them feeling throughout the play. If Antigone was a man it would be a lot less more about defying her place in society but a power struggle for who is right. In Antigone being a girl it brings up social questions and gives more of a feeling of hopelessness in the play. This is exemplified by Ismene stating they as women can not stand up to men. Then throughout the play we see examples and references to Antigone being a girl and how that is out of place again raising the question of gender equality. In more practical terms I think Antigone was a girl for the love interest of Haemon. This really intertwines motives inside Creon's family and creates more sub plots and power struggles throughout the play. In conclusion Sophocles made Antigone a girl to raise questions of gender equality and more of a feeling of hopelessness throughout the play.