Millennial men are leading a major backlash against women’s rights, according to new research from the University of Canberra.

Those men, born between 1982 and 2000, backed by their older Gen X brothers, say they are left out of the conversation about gender equality and believe there is too much political correctness at work. Nearly half say their rights are being eroded by the focus on gender equality.

Senator Lucy Gichuhi is threatening to name MPs who she believes bullied colleagues during the Liberal leadership spill. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins says: “There is more support for gender equality than ever before but there is also more opposition than ever before.”

This backlash comes at a time as federal politics in Australia is in upheaval, among serious accusations of sexism and bullying. Both the minister for women, Kelly O’Dwyer and South Australian senator Lucy Gichuhi confirmed this week there were instances of bullying over the course of the leadership spill in the Liberal Party. The survey reveals 58 per cent of respondents believe politics is the most sexist area of society in Australia, with the workplace not far behind at 53 per cent.