That her name is Motoko Kusanagi, seems she IS likely Some form of Asian, most-likely at that, Japanese. Her origin is a bit of a mystery. And some fans speculate that just because her ghost is in the cybernetic body of a woman does not necessarily mean she was born a woman, but perhaps WAS a man who died (or almost died) before her/his ghost was uploaded to the cyber body. IF the person she/he was lost all (or most) of their memories then waking up inside the "Shell" body might all be a new life and SHE just adapted to being in the bodily form of woman, albeit cybernetic. Her former self's memories may only hinder her in this new "life". She is well-trained in various forms of martial arts and close-quarters hand-to-hand combat. Her NEW "self" or Ghost has found a new contentment in just accepting who she now is regardless of origin of her ghost or soul. Whether she was a woman or man before, she now uses her feminine appearance to her advantage by using it, in that skimpy outfit, I mean come on! ...to distract targets or opponents. She "dazzles" them with her sexy appearance, using it as a weapon all in itself.