'Childfree' Woman Backed for Denying Mom Disney Vacation With Kids

A "childfree" employee has gone viral for refusing to hand her vacation time to a co-worker with children—and a TikTok movement has leapt to her defense.

TikToker Evie, or @evmariexo, shared her story in a video with nearly 10 million views. She explained that she used to work with a mom-of-two, whom she called "Karen."

"That year, I knew that I wanted to go home for the week or so of Christmas break," said Evie. "I wanted to see my family, I was homesick, and I put in leave for that week months in advance."

Shortly before her break, Evie said that her boss—whom she called "Bob"—brought her into his office. Bob told Evie that Karen was set on taking her kids to Disney World over the scheduled break.

According to Evie, Bob said, "I was just really hoping that you could find it in your heart to let her take your week so she can spend some time with her children."

Evie declined, noting that she had requested the vacation well in advance and her family was expecting her visit—while Karen had only issued her request 48 hours before the break was to start.

Bob told Evie that she had to break the news to her co-worker. When she told Karen, Evie said the mom burst into tears.

"She got so mad, you guys, the entitlement was unreal," said Evie. "She was like, 'You don't understand, I need to spend time with my children! I have children, they need to see their mother!'"

Evie replied, "I hear you, but I haven't seen my family in a year. You live with your kids, you see them every day."

But the co-worker did not let up, insisting that Evie had "no idea what it's like to have children" and "no idea what it's like to love like this."

The story outraged a swath of viewers who, like Evie, repudiated the notion that people who don't have children should be demoted in social and workplace priorities.

Women calling themselves "childfree by choice" have risen up across social media, sharing why they cast off the pressure to reproduce—whether to avoid debt, to circumvent medical complications, to prioritize a specific lifestyle or simply because they don't want kids. Although birth rates in the United States have declined for decades, four in 10 women say they face pressure to have children, according to a 2022 YouGov poll.

The hashtag #childfree has been viewed 505 million times on TikTok, the hashtag #childfreebychoice 340 million times and the hashtag #childfreetiktok 174 million times.

One viewer commented on Evie's video, "You're someone's kid too. I always say that. I may not have kids but I'm someone's kid. And we wanna be together too."

"Family does NOT equal children," insisted another viewer. "It can mean parents, brothers, aunts, uncles, [significant other]. We want to spend time with OUR families even if we don't have kids."

Newsweek has reached out to Evie for comment.