Gender-alizing Ego

After such ages today I tuned into Sab TV. An otherwise Comedy channel airing all varieties of family full-of-artificial-laughs comedies was airing a show with the familiar Smriti Irani (of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi fame). The show, Kuch Diiil Se (no apparent reason for the three i's in an otherwise one-i'ed Dil) seemed at first like just another lets-talk-general-issues shows, but one glance at the renowned Aruna Broota, I changed my mind.
The topic was 'Male Ego'. A couple was invited to talk about their marriage and the domination the husband had over his wife - considering he found it inappropriate for her to drive or go beyond her marital responsibilities. That struck a chord somewhere - but I was not particularly moved.
The talked moved on to how much a man should take toll over a woman's life. The hubby confessed his fear of her overpowering him and not making 'tea' for him anymore since she would consider herself independent of these duties. He indicated that he did not find any talents in her worth harnessing beyond the house. He said he was educating his daughter only so that she could find a suitable match later on in life. He believed that a woman is a home-maker and the man is the bread-earner and the reversal of roles is unacceptable. His ideas about his woman and her role in his life were quite orthodox, however his wife supported them fully as she admitted she had been prepared for it from childhood and had learnt to live with it over the years. That struck a chord somewhere - but I was not particularly moved.
The discussion moved on to a man from the audience confessing the problems he faced with his wife since both were working and he did most of the housework. Some even went ahead to support what he had to say while Aruna and a woman activist maintained the importance of women coming forth in such relationships and making their stand clear. Smriti commented intellectually that there is a line between self-respect and ego, and one needs to maintain the former while shedding the latter. That struck a chord somewhere - but I was not particularly moved.
When the show reached the end and Smriti began to take in questions - a man asked - 'Why brand ego with men alone? My wife is very egoistic and it gets very hard for me to adjust'.
That - hit bullseye.