how or if i can change my gender? can i also change my race? right now on my first save im a white/asian female

Which Tactics is this? I honestly don't recall one which makes use of race in the traditional sense.

You cannot change gender.This isn't Final Fantasy Tactics: Sex Change Hospital. If you want a particular gender then go to a town or whatever and go to the warrior recruitment option.(not sure its exact name but it should be obvious).then chose male or female and it'll generate random characters for the sex you specified.In terms of race the short answer is no,you cannot change any of your characters from Caucasian. The monk job does look more tanned than the other classes but thats as close as you'll get to any other race lol.