Claims of toxic masculinity in the military.

AUT law lecturer Cassandra Mudgway told Kate Hawkesby women in the Defence Force aren't being taken seriously when making complaints of sexual assault.

She said fewer than 25 percent of New Zealand Defence Force personnel are female, with fewer than 15 percent across the ditch and that's a problem.

Cassandra Mudgway told Kate Hawkesby this male imbalance is fuelling an extreme ideal of 'toxic manliness' - supporting violence, sex, status and aggression.

"Everything that's not macho for example is regarded as feminine and regarded as weak. Superiors excuse men's aggression against women [with] responses like, boys will be boys, or it's just locker room talk."

LISTEN ABOVE AS CASSANDRA MUDGWAY SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY