Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) has recently won an appeal in the state’s supreme court, allowing them to continue barring men from entering an installation known as the Ladies Lounge. This decision comes after the installation was closed in April due to an order from Tasmania’s civil and administrative tribunal to admit men to the female-only space, following a complaint from a man in Sydney who claimed discrimination based on gender.
The supreme court ruled that the Ladies Lounge qualifies for an exemption from the state’s anti-discrimination act under a section that allows discrimination if the intention is to promote equal opportunity for a disadvantaged group. Justice Shane Marshall stated that the Ladies Lounge serves as an arrangement to highlight the lack of equal opportunity in society and to provide women with a rare experience of being advantaged by the exclusion of men.
The court criticized the tribunal for making errors in fact and law, including a misunderstanding of the purpose of the Ladies Lounge and how it aimed to achieve its goals. The decision has been reversed, and the case has been sent back to the tribunal for reconsideration.
This ruling sets an important precedent for museums and institutions seeking to create spaces that promote equal opportunity and challenge societal norms. Mona’s Ladies Lounge will continue to offer a unique experience for women, shedding light on issues of gender discrimination and privilege in society.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
