Responding to male colleague's motherhood comments

[Lizzie523]

Let me start by saying I'm not a mother - I'm in my late 20s. I'm nowhere near it either as I'm single currently and don't even know that I definitely want to have children.

So this male colleague says to me in our loud open place office: do you want to have children? None of his business.

I asked him why he was asking & he said he was discussing the expense with a male colleague. I just brushed it off and continued working. He then asked if I had children.

Later, I was advising him on a work issue and he joked 'you'd make a terrible mother.' This caught me off guard but it was said quite loudly and we work open plan.

I've already had to ask this colleague to keep their distance lately as he was practically sitting on my lap. I will be working with him for the foreseeable.

I don't think I should let these comments slide but I don't want to get into it in the office floor either. WWYD?

I think the context is key here. The initial comment I thought was inappropriate but not too bad, possibly innocently meant and probably best handled low key by the OP challenging directly. However, the more she's disclosed, the more it's clear that the man needs addressing and there are issues here. 'Banter' about female breaststroke in a workplace where women are the minority has led to successful claims of sexual harassment at employment tribunals before now. Therefore the man is either an uninformed liability who needs an intervention urgently, or a lecherous idiot who needs putting in his place.

Breaststroke???? Obviously should read breasts

Ask him why he’s asking? Is he asking to impregnate you or offer some frozen sperm that can be used later?

Seriously.. next time tell him to mind his own business.

It’s not really a conversation for work. Especially if you’re not really on those terms at work