The Narrator-Naja Tatum

So far as I reading this novel, I am very curious as to why we don't know what the narrator of the story's gender is. I think the author purposely left this out to get the reader to make its on inference and assumption on what it is. The way the narrator speaks suggests that it may be a woman, because of its very detailed and some times emotional language. But I could be wrong because I am just going by the "typical" assumed characteristics of a woman. The relationship between the narrator and Mrs. Todd sometimes makes me think the narrator is a man. I am very anxious to find out.