Bruce and Mia debated about traditional gender roles in Tuesday night’s episode.

Big Brother’s Bruce and Mia.

Big Brother’s Bruce and Mia had a lively debate in Tuesday night’s episode about traditional gender roles. Photos: Channel 10

Big Brother Australia viewers were fired up watching Tuesday night’s episode when three contestants had a lively debate about gender roles. The social experiment has been famous for showcasing contrasting opinions of real-world issues since it first launched in 2001, and it appears Channel 10’s reboot is no different.

Tradie Bruce, whose bio states he is “a firm believer in having a trad wife who stays home with the kids”, and FHM publisher Michael, who says he has “a very low tolerance for woke people”, were very much on the same page when speaking with retail assistant Mia. The male pair argued that “it just works” when you have one parent stay at home to raise children while the other goes to work.

“I think having one of the parents home with the kids at all times, like not sending them to daycare and stuff, is so beneficial for them,” Bruce said, adding that he’s “always expected” he would be the one working.

“But I don’t think then it’s really giving someone a choice then, cause you’re already having that expectation they should do that,” Mia replied.

The 25-year-old tradie then argued that “if we go back to caveman days”, women protected the kids while the men “go out and hunt animals”.

Mia, 23, countered by saying that “that’s not how society is today”; however. Bruce felt it’s “still in the DNA”.

‘Biggest load of bulls**t’ – Big Brother contestant fires up over pay comment

Mia also brought up the gender pay gap and went on to say that even without children, women are “set up to fail” because of discrepancies between how much money they make compared to men.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the national gender pay gap in Australia is 11.5 per cent, with men making a weekly average of $2,106.40 across all industries and occupations, and women making an average of $1,864.10 in the same fields.

Importantly, the gender pay gap isn’t the same as equal pay — which is a legal requirement in Australia — but is instead caused by more women working part-time due to unpaid work, such as childcare or housework, and more women being in low-paying sectors and non-managerial positions.

“Biggest load of bulls**t I’ve ever heard, I hate when people say that,” Bruce responded to Mia.

“You go get a job, you’re starting at the same; if you work hard and bump up, you’re going to get paid more. It’s got nothing to do with gender.”

While Mia tried to argue that women had far fewer opportunities than men, she was continuously shut down and eventually went into the Diary Room to air her grievances.

“I think they come from a place of privilege and power that I, a woman, haven’t had in my life, so there’s just a lot that they don’t understand yet, and I’m going to have to just really try and explain it to them,” she told Big Brother.

“But I can only say so much if they’re not receptive.”

Big Brother’s Bruce, Mia and Michael.

Bruce (left) said he didn’t believe in the gender pay gap. Photo: Channel 10

Former Big Brother contestants weigh in

The conversation received a mixed response on social media, with two-time Big Brother contestant Estelle Landy agreeing with both sides.

“They’re also not wrong either, though,” she wrote. “He wasn’t gender-specific to begin with, even said ‘having one of the parents home’, and goes on to make valid points on everything. Mia’s point also valid, they actually weren’t that conflicting.”

“I agree with the boys,” another viewer said. “They never told her that her ‘opinions didn’t matter’, it was a healthy discussion of their views which are simply different to hers.”

Meanwhile, others praised Mia for standing up to the boys and said she had immediately become their favourite contestant.

“Mia shouldn’t have to be doing this work, but thank god she is!” Angie Kent commented.

Former Big Brother contestant Angela Clancy added: “The audacity with those 2 boys! Wish I was there to back Mia up.”

“It’s 2025! Both parents have to work full-time just to cover the ridiculous cost of groceries,” someone else shared.

“Seeing as how this is a social experiment, @bigbrotherau can you reverse gender norms/roles in the house for the next few weeks?” another viewer suggested.