Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25120405-20140705234245/@comment-107.178.41.14-20151114233910

The Daedra and Aedra are spirits, therefore they themselves do not have genders. however, their avatars often times DO have genders. This is most evident with Sheogorath in the events of the Shivering Isles lore during the end of the third era, and its continuation into the lore of the Dragon Crisis/the Last Dragonborn during the fourth era, in which the Hero of Kvatch/Champion of Cyrodiil mantles Sheogorath, when he sets the original Sheogorath free of his curse (allowing him to once again become Jyggalag: Daedric Prince of Order), and then becomes the essence that is Sheogorath. As the Hero of Kvatch's/Champion of Cyrodiil's gender, and race, is player determinant, and the Sheogoragh seen in the events of Skyrim are one and the same, it is implied that daedra may choose any form they wish, and therefore any gender or race. The likely reason for the Hero/Champion changing form into the form seen in Skyrim is most likely to keep the other Daedric Princes from knowing that Jyggalag has been set free from the curse, allowing him to once again observe and record the events of Mundus. It is also possible that this was done to keep things simpler for the worshippers of Nirn. It may also be that Sheogorath simply appears as a member of what ever is the dominant race of the region he is summoned. This would explain why He appears as an Imperial in Oblivion, a Nord in Skyrim, and is (or was) a Khajiit during ancient times in Elsweyr, as he is known to and nicknamed by the Khajiit as the "Skooma Cat" in their original pantheon. Either way, it is clear through dialogue that the Daedra, or at least the Princes, are able to choose their own genders, as Sheogorath refers to himself as a he. Shadowmere is also an essence. Though it is unclear what nature of essence it is. Most likely an essence of the Void, or of Sithis.