MONTEREY, Calif. -- A mother and her 5-month-old baby were asked to leave TEDWomen, a conference meant to celebrate the accomplishments and potential of women and girls around the world.
Jessica Jackley, author of Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least, brought her nursing infant to the three-day conference in Monterey, California, on Thursday, and was asked to leave by staff who explained that children are not permitted to attend the event.
Jackley wrote in a tweet that she was disappointed to leave the conference and wondered why an event that focuses on women doesn't have accommodations for working mothers. Mashable contacted Jackley for a comment, but could not reach her immediately.
Confused. #TEDWomen2015 “about the power of women and girls.” But working moms? Was just asked to leave bc my nursing 5mo old infant is w me— jessicajackley (@jessicajackley) May 28, 2015
@obinson I'm just sad. I really love #TED and #TEDWomen and am just bummed to leave. (It's not bc of nursing per se, just no kids allowed.)— jessicajackley (@jessicajackley) May 28, 2015
TED does not permit children at any of its conferences and does not coordinate onsite childcare.
The policy, however, raises questions about how the event series can fully encourage the participation of mothers who cannot or do not want to arrange childcare accommodations offsite or would prefer not to deal with the logistical hassle of pumping.
(Full disclosure: While TEDWomen did not have a room for nursing mothers to pump, this reporter asked conference organizers for a private space to pump and they accommodated her request.)
@TEDWomen Great conf so far. Sad to leave today. Please, let me help arrange awesome child care options for @TEDWomen attendees next year!— jessicajackley (@jessicajackley) May 28, 2015
@rainakumra Just offered to arrange child care options for @TEDwomen attendees next year. How great would that be! Let's do it together!— jessicajackley (@jessicajackley) May 28, 2015
June Cohen, executive producer of TED Media, told Mashable that she invited Jackley back to the conference and said the choice to stick to the event policy was a mistake. That policy is meant to encourage an "immersive" experience. In the same vein, smart phones are not allowed in the main theater audience.
"The decision made in the moment we feel was wrong," said Cohen. Organizers created a space for Jackley to watch a simulcast of the conference.
Cohen said that attendees sporadically make childcare and pumping requests, but that revising the no-child rule might help more mothers participate in the conference.
"Clearly this is a policy we need to revisit," Cohen said.
Wow! In the time it took to fly home the amazing @junecohen @TEDWomen team already set up lounge for moms, babies. Setting a great example.— jessicajackley (@jessicajackley) May 29, 2015
In a blog post published Friday afternoon, TED staff confirmed that the organization would "revisit" its policy on children, "with an eye toward finding a creative, holistic solution — one that offers a solution for parents with infants and small children, while preserving the conference experience for all."
The conference lineup includes advocates of gender equality like President Jimmy Carter, tennis great Billie Jean, and Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg gave a talk at the event in 2010 about why there are so few women leaders.