Australia’s Mona asked a court to reverse its ruling that allowed men inside a women’s only space.
Archived version: https://archive.ph/oHT6U
Australia’s Mona asked a court to reverse its ruling that allowed men inside a women’s only space.
Archived version: https://archive.ph/oHT6U
Gender may be a social construct, but I recognize that I’m privileged to not have to care too much about mine.
Now, the point of the exhibition was actually about historical men-only places where women experienced exclusion. The art is not only the exhibition itself, but also the sense of rejection that men feel in not being allowed in. I would be surprised if they didn’t allow transwomen and non-binary folk in, as there are many spaces that don’t welcome them even now.
The artist said she wants to demonstrate that gender is meaningless, I think a lot of people are painting their opinions over the artists because they assume because they’re sure their opinion is right that all right thinking people will agree. It’s similar with science, people assume the thing that feels scientific is right even when actual science disagrees.
men can just choose to identify as women if they want to go in because gender, according to the artist, is a meaningless construct. It’s a fairly common idea, people can choose to identify as any gender for any reason for any amount of time.
I’m having a hard time finding the article right now but I seem to recall that the artwork was curated in a way to showcase artwork that previously hung in men-only spaces.
I don’t disagree about the artist having that view of gender but I still think that there are people (both cis and trans) to whom their gender is very important for them, and again I recognize the privilege of feeling that gender is unimportant.
I think the idea of teaching laundry and ironing on Sundays is hilarious though
I feel that many things are important to me which I could choose to change at any time for any reason, I could choose to never speak to my parents if I choose to and many do but they’re still important to me.
But in some people and some cultures particularly the idea of never speaking to your parents again is unconscionable. I know because I was told I had no morals for decisions I made in my life that had no effect on anyone else. Different strokes for different folks. If a choice is incompatible with your worldview then it’s not a real choice.
In some cultures letting a gay or trans person live is unconscionable, there is no link between how random cultures feel and morality. There is no reason to base a progressive and modern society on cruel social traditions.
If you want to change your gender at this exhibit in Australia then you are free to do so, if your cultural baggage makes the idea disgusting to you then either work on that or choose to miss out on this art and many other beautiful things because maintaining hurtful traditions is more important to you.
Your last point is very true. Thank you for framing it like that.
Edit: That’s not to say your first point isn’t true, just that I believe that a distinction is necessary between choices that affect only oneself and choices that affect others. I just felt it was poignant how those choices and baggage that affect our worldview also narrow our experiences