After getting frustrated with trying to write my linguistics paper with "gender neutral" language, I simply added a footnote:

"In my opinion, the use of gender-neutral language in this context is highly inefficient, and is simply an overreaction by activists to male dominance (perceived or real). In most languages, one or the other gender pronoun is taken, based on context, to be gender-neutral. I will follow the convention of taking male pronouns to be all-inclusive."

It's a socio-linguistics course, so I'm sure they'll understand.