“why she did not just stay home and take care of her child instead of having a career,” because asking a female coworker this question has a subtext behind it

“why she did not just stay home and take care of her child instead of having a career,” because asking a female coworker this question has a subtext behind it that is, "I find it peculiar or odd that you chose to have a career". In what other ways do you think it's normal for someone to justify why they want to work? You would never ask this question to a male coworker who recently had a child.