Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem~

I've played Mystery of the Emblem, Genealogy of the Holy War, The Blazing Blade, Shadow Dragon: The Blade of Light, and New Mystery of the Emblem. There was always a saying back in the day that female characters and children tended to get good stat growths, I wonder if that's still true? I also play Heroes, and I still really love the characters I've raised who are mages. Like Linde from Mystery of the Emblem, or Tinny from Genealogy of the Holy War.