More than two-thirds of girls and young women believe gender inequality remains a persistent problem in Australia and only eight per cent believe they are always treated equally to boys.

Key points: A third think "it'd be easier to get my dream job if I was a man"

A third think "it'd be easier to get my dream job if I was a man" Only 14 per cent of girls think they get the same opportunity as boys

Only 14 per cent of girls think they get the same opportunity as boys The report suggests promoting equality through legislation and quotas

Those are just some of the results from the report Everyday Sexism, released today to mark the International Day of the Girl.

The report features survey responses from 600 girls and young women aged 15-19 across Australia.

"To be honest, I was genuinely saddened and disappointed that there are so many young girls and women in Australia who feel that they are unequal to their male counterparts," said Sherry-Rose Watts, a university student who participated in the survey.

The report, released by not-for-profit groups Plan International Australia and Our Watch, also found only 14 per cent of girls and young women believe they are given the same opportunity in life as boys.

One third agreed with the statement: "It'd be easier to get my dream job if I was a man."

Got a confidential news tip? Email ABC Investigations at investigations@abc.net.au For more sensitive information: Text message using the Signal phone app +61 436 369 072 No system is 100 per cent secure, but the Signal app uses end-to-end encryption and can protect your identity. Please read the terms and conditions.

"No wonder one in three girls feel that if they were a male or if they were a boy they'd be more likely to achieve their dream jobs," Ms Watts said.

"When they see women represented in media, in politics, in academia, on boards, — it's a very low number. And those who are represented are scrutinised, and criticised for their appearance."

'You have a right to demand better'

The report also found half of girls and young women agreed they were never or seldom valued for their brains over their looks.

Only 16 per cent felt they were always valued for their brains and ability.

"Sometimes... people prioritise your looks over your brains," said Carly, aged 16.

She also responded to the survey, but prefers her last name not be used due to fears of potential online bullying.

Carly says from a very young age she was judged on her appearance not on who she was a person. ( ABC News: Norman Hermant )

"When I was in Year 7, the boys started an Instagram account rating us out of 10... I remember I got a five out of 10," she said.

"It just kind of makes you think, these guys, they know you. They know who you are. And yet they're still not valuing you as a person; they're valuing you for the way you look."

Zoe Condliffe of Plan International Australia said the numbers in the report were "really important".

"The numbers are saying to young women 'this is something that's actually happening, you're affected by it, you're not imagining it. And you have a right to demand better'," she said.

The report also looked at the division of housework in the home. One in three young women said they always do more housework than their brothers.

More than 40 per cent said a lack of support at home would make them re-evaluate whether to start a family.

"There are families where the older girls usually are the ones in charge of making sure the kids are helped to get to school, making sure the house is neat and tidy," Carly said.

"I guess it does kind of put them off from maybe wanting to have a family."

The survey results in the report is not all doom and gloom. Sixty-seven per cent agreed that girls and young women are becoming more valued as equal members of the community.

Ms Watts believes the more talk about gender inequality, the better.

"We're having so much discussion, and so much awareness about this issue. I mean it affects 50 per cent of our population. It can only be a positive thing," she said.

The report proposes a number of broad-based recommendations to address gender inequality, from doing more to challenge gender stereotypes to promoting equality through legislation and quotas.

Perhaps most importantly, Ms Condliffe said, it reminds all Australians that there is still plenty of work to do to achieve gender equality.

"A lot people make the mistake of thinking because we live in Australia we're done here. And we're not done," she said.

Loading...