Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) recently won an appeal in the state’s supreme court, allowing them to continue barring men from entering an installation called the Ladies Lounge. The installation had been closed in April after a complaint from a man in Sydney who claimed the museum had discriminated against him based on gender.
The supreme court ruled that the Ladies Lounge qualified for an exemption from the state’s anti-discrimination act, as it was intended to promote equal opportunity for women by highlighting the lack of equal opportunity that prevails in society. Justice Shane Marshall stated that the Ladies Lounge gives women a rare glimpse of what it is like to be advantaged, rather than disadvantaged by the refusal of entry to men.
The court found that the tribunal had made errors in its decision, including mischaracterizing the purpose of the Ladies Lounge and how it was intended to achieve its goals. The ruling quashed the previous decision and sent the case back to the tribunal for reconsideration.
This decision allows Mona to continue their policy of excluding men from the Ladies Lounge, emphasizing the importance of promoting equal opportunity for women in society. The museum’s unique approach to highlighting gender disparities has been upheld by the court, ensuring that this installation remains a space for women to experience privilege in a world where it is often lacking.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com