You won't believe the conversation that just happened on TV in 2025. But you should.

Big Brother is back, and the rebooted show is already causing controversy.

Debuting on Sunday night, 12 housemates were sent into the Big Brother house, back where it belongs at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

And it feels like OG Big Brother, with a clear focus on getting to know these housemates and platforming a wide variety of personalities — some with very different backgrounds and beliefs.

This brings me to a conversation that went down on Tuesday night's episode between Sydney publisher Michael, Queensland tradie Bruce, and shop assistant Mia, who is one of only two women of colour in the Big Brother house this year.

What began as a conversation about whether one parent should take on the childbearing responsibilities as the other worked quickly became a debate about gender.

Watch the moment Big Brother's Anna made reality TV history. Post continued after video.

"My dad came home from work and my mum had dinner on the table," Michael said.

"I've always expected that it's going to me working," Bruce added.

To this, Mia questioned why it's the woman who is expected to be the stay-at-home parent. "I don't think you're giving someone a choice then, because you're already having that expectation," she told the men.

Then things took a weird turn. "If we go back to caveman days, women stay there to protect the kids and guys go hunt the animals," Bruce declared.

"But that is not how society is today," Mia attempted to offer before Bruce cut in to say that "It's still in the DNA."

Mia then tried to discuss the systematic inequalities between men and women, but the men didn't budge. "It's the biggest load of bulls**t I've ever heard," Bruce actually told this woman.

Michael then tried to claim that men get more management opportunities in their careers because they're 'more aggressive' and 'competitive by nature'. Oh boy.

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In a separate confessional, Mia spoke about how she was feeling in that moment. "They both have such similar views… they're really trying to shut me down and dismiss things," she told Big Brother.

"They are a representation of men who see themselves as very powerful and they're telling me that my opinions, my voice, don't matter as much."

A clip of the discussion caused a big reaction on Instagram.

"What in the 1950s am I watching," wrote one commenter on the above video.

"Mia shouldn't have to be doing this work, but thank god she is," added reality star, Angie Kent.

"Why in 2025 are we platforming this conversation and these men," podcaster Laura Henshaw wrote on the video.

I understand Laura's perspective. Network Ten made the decision to cast these men on Big Brother, knowing their controversial views on women — in fact, they were likely picked for that very reason.

But these conversations are being had between men every day in the privacy of homes and in the corners of the online manosphere's forums.

Bruce is expected to be a divisive housemate. Image: Ten.

It's happening in workplaces, within families and romantic relationships and inside schools every day. A 2024 study of South Australian teachers found that women teachers were increasingly being subjected to sexist and abusive language from their male students.

"Boys are increasingly using misogynistic language towards female students and teachers, telling them to 'make me a sandwich'," said one female teacher.

Rising misogyny is a huge problem in Australia, so pretending that it hasn't infiltrated the mainstream only protects these men from being held accountable for spreading sexist rhetoric.

Reality TV functions at its best when it holds a mirror up to the best and worst of society.

And so, whether we like it or not, it's important that the conversation was aired.

Yes, some men watching Big Brother will agree with Bruce and Michael's sentiments, but I'd guess that a larger portion will recognise they come across as ignorant and patronising in this discussion.

And lucky for Australia, we have people like Mia who will have that conversation.

"Oh my gosh, that was a lot," Mia reflected to Big Brother afterwards.

"They've come from a place of power and privilege that I, as a woman, haven't had in my life. There's a lot they don't understand yet, and I'm going to have to try to explain it to them, but I can only say so much when they're not receptive."

Feature image: Ten.