Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) has won an appeal in the state’s supreme court allowing them to continue barring men from entering an exhibit known as the Ladies Lounge. The exhibit was closed in April after a complaint was made that the museum discriminated against a man by excluding him on the basis of gender. However, the court found that the Ladies Lounge qualified for an exemption from the 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 to highlight and challenge inequality that women face in society by providing a space where women experience advantage. The museum spokesperson announced that the Ladies Lounge will remain closed until further instruction from the tribunal.
The artist behind the installation, Kirsha Kaechele, celebrated the court’s decision as a triumph for women and the museum, stating that women are better than men. Mona’s lawyer successfully argued that the Ladies Lounge was an artwork meant to address current and historical disadvantages faced by women. The judge accepted this argument, citing evidence of ongoing bias against women in society.
Kaechele expressed gratitude to the men involved in the case, including the complainant, for sparking a global conversation about women’s experiences. She emphasized the importance of challenging perspectives and understanding social structures. The case has garnered international attention, inviting people worldwide to consider the experiences of women in society.
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