The Ladies' Lounge exhibition at the Museum of Old and New Art on the island of Tasmania was intended exclusively for women. But after a male resident of the island filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination, a judge ruled that gender segregation was indeed against the law: the women's lounge must now also provide access for interested men.
Disadvantaged social status
The curator has since closed the entire gallery space in protest. When it is open, visiting women are served by male servants, who “live to serve” and replenish the glasses with champagne. It is an indictment of “male world domination.”
The museum believes the ruling shows “an overly narrow view of the historical and ongoing social position of women.” The judge is said to have ignored the function of the women's lounge to “promote equality of opportunity”.
Now the artist who designed the lounge, Kirsha Kaechelli, says in an interview that she will adapt the space “according to legal regulations” in order to open the space again – for women only. As the lounge will soon become a women's toilet area, men may be banned from entering the area under Australian law.
She also wants to declare the space a church.
“Great toilet”
“There will be a beautiful toilet in the ladies' lounge, so it can be used as a women's toilet. It's a nice toilet and the men don't get to see it.”
According to the new plan, men are allowed to enter on Sundays. Then they can learn how to iron and fold clothes. The artist described the discrimination issue as a “blessing,” because it generates interest in her liberation message.
By the way, the rest of the museum is open to men.
