I just heard old time musician Jake Blount say he changed plans of his group to play a particular tune because it was identified with a murder ballad. I don't know what tune or song was in question but then he gave the example that he wouldnt sing Rock, Salt and Nails because people would identify him with the man rather than as being sympathetic to the woman victim.
But generally in traditional music of N America and British Isles (I don't know about broader afield) men and women can sing the same songs regardless of what gender one expects the narrator of the lyrics to be.