Actually the situation in English is not that different, except that the unmarked pronoun to refer back to “word” is “it”. The use of “he” instead in a translation is strongly marked to indicate something, most probably the maleness of the Word. Translators need at least to know that that is what they are communicating by using “he”.

With reference to the translation of the pronouns in the Prologue, I think that the evidence for a neuter or feminine translation, though provocative, is lacking.

Let me explain. John 1.1c states καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος (and the word/statement/logos was God). Here the anarthrous predicate nominative (not the subject) is θεός. It's placement before the copulative makes it most likely that it carries a qualitative force. Thus, "the word was divine" or some such thing. [Let me know if I need to explain this step further.]

Now, and this is what's important for the translation of the pronouns, John 1.2 continues οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν (This one existed in the beginning with God). The referent of the demonstrative pronoun, οὗτος, is ὁ λόγος from 1.1c. If the author of the Prologue had intended a neuter or feminine connotation, he or she would have shown it in the choosing of the demonstrative, preferring αὕτη or τοῦτο over the masculine οὗτος. Such a substitution would have been natural, not violating rules of concord. However, the author went with the masculine οὗτος. While the pronouns that follow could be construed as neuter (αὐτοῦ), their antecedent, οὗτος, cannot be.

Thus, I don't think there is ample grammatical evidence to support the shift from the traditional, masculine, translation.

I'm sure I'm missing something, or restating something someone else has already said. After all, I am entering a conversation that has been ongoing. If I've done this, please accept my apologies.

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, "He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, "Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by all her children." (Luke 7:33-35 NKJV)

Therefore the wisdom of God also said, \"I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,\' (Luke 11:49 NKJV)

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, \\"He has a demon.\\' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, \\"Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!\\' But wisdom is justified by all her children.\\" (Luke 7:33-35 NKJV)

Therefore the wisdom of God also said, \\"I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,\\' (Luke 11:49 NKJV)