Lecture on women's underwear now open to men
The Lake Villa District Library in Illinois has agreed to allow men to attend a historical presentation on "Unmentionables: The Rise and Fall of Ladies Underwear," after hearing complaints that it was violating the state's Constitution by excluding males from the public program.
A Chicago Tribune article Monday received a swift response after describing the "no men" rule set by program presenter Ellie Carlson, an expert on historical clothing. Carlson, a costume curator, says she usually bans men because it makes women "of a certain age" uncomfortable with the subject matter, which veers into talk about menstruation, sex and other bodily functions, she said.
By 11 a.m., the library updated its event listing, which now states: "Please note: This program is designed for ladies only. Men may attend (but that may put a damper on discussion!)."
After Illinois resident Rob Sherman called her Monday morning to object, Carlson agreed to open the program to men, she said. The American Civil Liberties Union, too, took issue with her initial stance because it is being held in a taxpayer-funded venue.
Carlson will present the lecture at Jan. 20 at the Lake Villa library, in Lake Villa, Ill., with similar presentations scheduled at Harper College in Palatine, Ill., and Bourbonnais Public Library District in Bourbonnais, Ill.
"Once they have a meeting space and once they open it up to the public, they have to let everybody in," ACLU spokesman Ed Yohnka said.
During the lecture, Carlson displays examples of the historical undergarments, such as brassieres and corsets, and describes their evolution, along with humorous asides. She has evicted a rabbi and a male reporter from the room during past events, but many were held at private venues.
Sherman, for one, said he has already reserved his spot at the Lake Villa event.
The Lake Villa District Library in Illinois has agreed to allow men to attend a historical presentation on "Unmentionables: The Rise and Fall of Ladies Underwear," after hearing complaints that it was violating the state's Constitution by excluding males from the public program.
A Chicago Tribune article Monday received a swift response after describing the "no men" rule set by program presenter Ellie Carlson, an expert on historical clothing. Carlson, a costume curator, says she usually bans men because it makes women "of a certain age" uncomfortable with the subject matter, which veers into talk about menstruation, sex and other bodily functions, she said.
By 11 a.m., the library updated its event listing, which now states: "Please note: This program is designed for ladies only. Men may attend (but that may put a damper on discussion!)."
After Illinois resident Rob Sherman called her Monday morning to object, Carlson agreed to open the program to men, she said. The American Civil Liberties Union, too, took issue with her initial stance because it is being held in a taxpayer-funded venue.
Carlson will present the lecture at Jan. 20 at the Lake Villa library, in Lake Villa, Ill., with similar presentations scheduled at Harper College in Palatine, Ill., and Bourbonnais Public Library District in Bourbonnais, Ill.
"Once they have a meeting space and once they open it up to the public, they have to let everybody in," ACLU spokesman Ed Yohnka said.
During the lecture, Carlson displays examples of the historical undergarments, such as brassieres and corsets, and describes their evolution, along with humorous asides. She has evicted a rabbi and a male reporter from the room during past events, but many were held at private venues.
Sherman, for one, said he has already reserved his spot at the Lake Villa event.