I wouldn't attribute to sexism what can be attributed to novelty and the bikeshed principle.
A new CEO is named to a Fortune 500 company. Do any of us really have the expertise to comment on that nomination? Likely not. It's so far out of our league that we don't even attempt to Monday-morning quarterback.
On the other hand, everyone can relate to parenting, so that (the bikeshed) is the first choice for discussion instead. It's not passing judgement--it's just the most accessible and novel topic about Marissa's nomination. Why rehash old business threads whan you can talk about something new and interesting? She's the first pregnant Fortune 500 CEO; of course it's going to come up.
It's also a fair comment that most women would prefer to raise an infant under more ideal circumstances. This is just a statement of fact. Most male CEOs have as great a powerlust (or more so) than Marissa, but they're not pregnant, so you can't as easily talk about what they're giving up to take the job, and so it doesn't come up in conversation.
A new CEO is named to a Fortune 500 company. Do any of us really have the expertise to comment on that nomination? Likely not. It's so far out of our league that we don't even attempt to Monday-morning quarterback.
On the other hand, everyone can relate to parenting, so that (the bikeshed) is the first choice for discussion instead. It's not passing judgement--it's just the most accessible and novel topic about Marissa's nomination. Why rehash old business threads whan you can talk about something new and interesting? She's the first pregnant Fortune 500 CEO; of course it's going to come up.
It's also a fair comment that most women would prefer to raise an infant under more ideal circumstances. This is just a statement of fact. Most male CEOs have as great a powerlust (or more so) than Marissa, but they're not pregnant, so you can't as easily talk about what they're giving up to take the job, and so it doesn't come up in conversation.