Why did Ram asked Sita for 'AgniPariksha'? Is Ram male chauvinist!

Ram, the supreme God avatar who is considered flawless, and beyond praises which can be expressed in words.
Why did such a Ideal person asked his wife Sita to perform a test for her purity, when she was kidnapped by Ravana (The Evil).

Sita did not went to Ravana out of choice, she was forcibly taken. So Ravana was to be punished, and he aptly was. but for what reasons did Ram asked her to perform this 'AgniPariksha' test?
Even though Sita passed the test, she was later exiled from His kingdom 'Ramrajya', because people of His kingdom did not beleived in Sita's purity. Ram instead of fighting with ill-opinioned people he exiled Sita for none of her faults.

Please comment on this!
this topic is just to have a healthy discussion. and not to hurt any relgious sentiment.