We don't have this problem in French. Words and nouns have gender... The main problem for ultra-feminist is France is female... Is it a hint of self-degradation? Don't think so...
But some still argue about some hight position which have only male form. Mmm la Présidente for ex, is the wife of the Président de la République. However, la Présidente of a bank is a title (or a function)...
A hurricane can be an "ouragan" (m) or "tempête tropicale" (f)...
In the 70', some were arguing that most of the destructive forces are female gender: LA guerre (war), une inondation (flooding) etc.
The answer was they were Nature forces as well...

What made a word male or female in the french language is unknown, at least from me, but i don't think it is due to a perception of power...