Gillard urges US to call out sexism

Former prime minister Julia Gillard is urging Americans to call out sexism against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Ms Gillard has touched on her own experiences in a piece for the New York Times after attending a forum on women in leadership at the Democratic National Convention.

Ms Gillard speaks of being branded a witch and a bitch in posters during an anti-carbon tax rally and a call by broadcaster Alan Jones for her to be put in a chaff bag and dumped at sea.

But not even Mrs Clinton was immune to what Ms Gillard called "the curious question of gender".

"She knows what it's like to be the subject of the stereotype that a powerful woman cannot be likeable, that if she is commanding then she must be incapable of empathy."

Many young women hoping for political careers are relying on such sexism to be rebuffed.

"Mrs Clinton should not have to deal with this alone. Every Democrat, every Republican, every person who believes that women and men are equal should call out any sexism," Ms Gillard says.