Sydney Boys High School students film powerful video about feminism for International Women’s Day

THESE male high school students were shocked when they read out the horrible things their female friends, family members and teachers are told every day.

The prefects at Sydney Boys High School created a video about feminism for International Women's Day.

MALE students at a Sydney high school have created a viral Facebook video about feminism to mark International Women’s Day.

Prefects at Sydney Boys High School asked the women in their lives the question, “Why is feminism important to you?” and received some shocking responses.

The boys read out the answers on camera and their responses were collated into a video, which has been watched almost 100,000 times since it was uploaded on Monday.

“We talked to our female friends, sisters, mothers and teachers and we asked them the question, ‘Why is feminism personal to you?’,” Sydney Boys High School captain Hugh Bartley told news.com.au.

“We got some specific, personal experiences which were really confronting ... some of the boys were really shocked.”

The school’s Year 12 students are focusing on what men and boys can do to help reduce gender bias and discrimination.

“We have been talking about gender stereotypes and toxic masculinity and the general disadvantage that a lot of women and girls in Australia face globally,” said Mr Bartley, who happily identifies as a feminist.

“Ten years ago a lot of people wanted to distance themselves from the feminist label, but people are starting to stand up to sexism, gender bias and discrimination, particularly in the last few years and particularly since the American election.

“Women are still facing discrimination at home and abroad and that’s something that all of us need to pay attention to.”

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These are some of the responses the students received from women, when asked to finish the sentence, “Feminism is important to me because ...”

- “A few months ago, a guy decided for me that I wanted to have sex with him. I didn't want to.”

- “Despite being a fully qualified vet, a woman recently told me I would not be able to go out to her farm and pull a calf, because it would be too hard for me. I went out there and I pulled that calf.”

“When I was 12, my Dad told me I should be ashamed of my body, and that I had thunder thighs.”

- “I was called a bitch and a stupid whore by multiple boys when I refused to send naked pictures of myself to their friends.”

- “When I give directions at work, I’m called a bitch, rather than a leader, and bossy rather than assertive.”

- “My Dad doesn’t think I can be an engineer and my Mum doesn’t think I can be an economist, because that’s ‘too hard’ for a girl.”

- “I literally cannot go for a run around the block without being catcalled.”

- “I don’t have the freedom to play online games without being called an ‘attention whore’.”

- “One day my Dad told me I should be ashamed of having a flat chest, because boobs are all men really care about. He said if any man had to choose between a caring, intelligent and pretty woman with a flat chest or a shallow, less accomplished woman with a massive chest, that they’d always choose the second.”

- “Millions of girls and women around the world are denied the right to education, the right to choose who they marry, the right to own land and the right to their own safety. This is a global movement and all of us women are in it together.”

- “I’m hopeful for my future. I have high-reaching dreams.”