[geebee]

Silicon Valley doesn’t really like people with family obligations. In interviews in my 30s, I found myself hiding the fact that I had children. Once a recruiter, trying to lure me away from a stable company for a startup, told me that I better take my risks while I still could, before I had children (I had 2).

I grew up in SF and I’m pushing 50. The population of children in SF has dropped to a little more that half of what it was when I was born. That’s an urban trend overall, but SF is an especially glaring example. What can I say? Kids are expensive and don’t pay rent, and parents have to compete for housing with people who Factor in income from renting out that “spare” bedroom on Airbnb.

Tech in the Bay Area would really rather you didn’t have kids.

[victoriasun]

I completely agree; I have somewhat of a conspiracy theory that CEOs/executives in tech are to some extent actively preventing us from starting families to increase our productivity. Perhaps it’s a stress to say it’s active, but I do think that the ruling executive class has the most to benefit from young people failing to have non-work related social lives. The diversity problem here in tech is directly related to this —- honestly, if we hired more women, more young men would be meeting women. My husband and I met at work, so while I complain in my previous post of inappropriate behavior from co-workers, I’d like to say that there are completely appropriate ways to approach and date a co-worker. And it’s really great to be married to someone for whom an understanding of our work lives is a given.

[BurningFrog]

I think SFs hostility to children is largely independent of tech.

It's about not building housing for 40 years, and running a terrible school system, etc.

[pm90]

Correct. Make decent homes and childcare affordable and you will see more kids. It’s not that hard. BTW, most tech workers in SF still work at bigger firms (Ie non startups) so the argument that startup culture is what holds people back from childbearing doesn’t seem to hold water.

[wutbrodo]

Yea, a big tech co might be one of the most family-friendly jobs you can get, afaict.

[geebee]

Interesting observation. While I maintain tech isn’t friendly to families with children, I do agree it’s not a driving factor in SF losing this population. The cost of housing and schools have a lot to do with it.