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A feminist filmmaker has sparked a worldwide backlash after suggesting that women’s rights movements risk drowning out the voices of men and undermining gender equality.

Cassie Jaye, a prominent feminist producer and director, released her film The Red Pill - a documentary exploring Men’s Right Advocates (MRAs).

The film explores MRA groups, which are often seen as being anti-women “hate” organisations, and challenges the viewers’ perspective on gender issues.

It documents Ms Jaye – a lifelong feminist - spending time with leaders and members of the movement and struggling to come to terms with their beliefs.

One the film’s website, Ms Jaye writes: “When I came across the brash online community of the Men’s Rights Movement, I was intrigued.

“My struggle to understand men’s rights issues and the turmoil I experienced in questioning my long-held feminist beliefs set the tone to have an open and honest discussion exploring opposing gender ideologies.

“My hope for this film is to educate audiences on the issues that face men and boys in our society today and analyse why the current gender discussion is not fully inclusive.”

In an interview with Sky News Australia, she said: “There are many ways that men are being disadvantaged or discriminated against in law, in court and in the cultural discussion around these issues.

“When men are victims of domestic violence they are often laughed at or scoffed at or said that they are whiners or to 'deal with it'.

“But if a women ever reveals to a friend that she was hit by a male partner instantly we feel compassion and want to help and support them and go to the police.

“When women are abusing a man, and this happens at a higher rate than most people realise, we don’t have the same compassion.

"We are willing to say men are privileged therefore they don't have problems or if they do it is is the fault of patriarchy and therefore their fault.

"After my three-and-a-half years ot making The Red Pill I saw actions and things that I disagree with in feminists and ultimately it led me to believe that feminism is not the road to gender equality.

"And what I am really in support of is gender equality across the board and a part of that discussion is talking about what men are dealing with and being willing to listen to what they have to say.

"I no longer call myself a feminist but I am still an advocate of women's rights and always will be and I am adding men to the discussion."

But since the film premiered in October, posters advertising screenings have been “vandalised” – with some in Toronto covered by stickers saying: “White cry-baby misogynists meeting”.

Others label it a "sanitised front for toxic misogynist movement".

A cinema in Melbourne cancelled a screening of the film after a petition, signed by 2,000 people, called for the “misogynistic propaganda film” to be dropped.

And Ms Jaye’s PR team said that The Village Voice, a prominent New York magazine, refused to run a paid-for advertisement of the film following their publication of a negative review.

Ms Jauye said: “There was this explosion of debate about censorship and I am glad that this conversation is happening.

“The film itself I think is an extremely balanced film. I let everyone speak their piece and be heard in context without manipulation.

“The topic really ruffles feathers and makes people afraid.

“I am still passionate about women’s rights and issues and I always will be.

"Making The Red Pill is about exploring a different realm of the gender equality discussion that has never been explored before in a film.”