He obviously was never able to accept his wife as an equal in the business world and it seems likely he does not accept them as equals in any part of his life.
For me, marriage is all in. Anything less where one party has set limits is unequal and becomes a union of convenience by the one with the power where the other is subservient to their whims. No thanks. As you saw from my profile I'm a guy. I've been happily married for 22 years.