I was asked to leave an event for female founders because I had my baby with me

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Accessing the article

  • Several commenters share archive links for those paywalled or blocked.
  • Some note one archive copy includes photos while another does not.

Was asking her to step out reasonable?

  • One camp sees the request to take the baby outside as polite and standard at professional events.
    • Argument: even “soft” baby sounds are evolutionarily hard to ignore and can distract from talks; it’s fair to prioritize a quiet environment for paying/committed attendees.
    • Many parents in this camp say they routinely remove their own kids when noisy and would appreciate a gentle nudge if they misjudge.
  • Another camp argues that quiet cooing is a minimal disruption and the response was overkill, especially given the topic and audience.
    • They note parents may be better at filtering baby sounds; non-parents may be oversensitive.

Event context and gender/parenting

  • Some stress the irony: a woman-focused event, talk about mother–founder challenges, and yet discomfort with an actual baby in the room.
  • Others counter that the topic doesn’t change the basic norm of maintaining a professional environment.
  • Debate over whether this is a good example of “systemic barriers” for mothers, or an overinterpretation of a mundane interaction.

Organizer’s response and media framing

  • A LinkedIn response from the organizer (linked in thread) claims:
    • The mother was offered alternate spaces where she could still hear the talk.
    • She stayed for the full conference and was not ejected.
  • Some readers conclude the article’s framing is selective or sensationalized; others remain sympathetic to the mom’s discomfort and feelings.

Broader attitudes toward children

  • Long subthread on rising intolerance toward children in public vs. expectations that society collectively “puts up with” kids because they’re essential to the future.
  • Strong disagreement over whether childless people are especially hostile, or whether some parents are simply inconsiderate.
  • Cultural comparisons (e.g., China vs. West) on how much disruption from children is socially tolerated.

Proposed solutions

  • Suggestions include on-site childcare at events, clearer expectations in advance, and more flexible spaces for parents.
  • Some envision more child-inclusive workplaces; others worry about noise in already loud environments.