I am a US size 7 female. Size 5 1/2-6 fits me perfectly in these shoes. They have a little wiggle room, but I like it. I wear these tai chi shoes and feel like I can do much better because I don't have friction from other shoes. Also, my knee would sometimes hurt after an hour of doing exercises in tennis shoes. I later found that it was partly due to the friction in my shoes and partly because I hadn't followed the form properly. I think the shoes are unisex. The fabric feels breathable and the sole offers some protection when worn outdoors. I've only used them for indoor tai chi.