More than 100 businessmen want to stamp out everyday sexism in the workplace, but it seems the world of politics has a long way to go.
The Male Champions of Change group has worked with federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins to produce a report on the issue.
Researchers interviewing more than 6000 employees uncovered problems including insults masquerading as jokes, devaluation of women's views or voices, role stereotyping, and preoccupation with physical appearance over competence.
It also looked at unwarranted gender labelling, such as when women are diminished for being 'too aggressive' or men ignored because they 'lack competitive edge'.
"Typically people don't raise it because it can be seen as too small to make a fuss about and few want to be seen to be 'rocking the boat'. But consistently in my work ... we hear that these things do matter," Ms Jenkins said on Tuesday.
Explosives and fertiliser company Invetec Pivot boss James Fazzino said if leaders - particularly men - call out other men on everyday sexism it made a powerful difference.
"Men in our industry clearly don't experience everyday sexism in the way that many women do," he said.
Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Natalie Hutchins says she met with other indigenous affairs ministers in Canberra on Monday only to find the chair of the meeting ignored the women in the room.
"I had a male chair of a meeting not acknowledging any of the women in the room who were trying to make a point, and going straight to the men in the room," Ms Hutchins told reporters on Tuesday.
"And those women having to be quite forceful, and they were forceful women, in getting their point across. It happens at all levels."
Ms Hutchins said towards the end of her Canberra meeting one man spoke up.
"One of the men said 'excuse me chair there are women in this room that are trying to make a point' and that drew the attention to a couple of women being able to make some comment," she said.
"Quite frankly the chair should have known better."
