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Heidi states pretty much what I was thinking myself. I also went to a Seven Sisters college and I think it would be hypocritical for me to say that men can't have men-only clubs when I went to a women-only educational institution. I happen to have a friend who belongs to the Club of Odd Volumes and he's certainly no male chauvinist woman-hater. He likes having an occasional visit to the old-time atmosphere of the club, drinking port and smoking cigars and all that outmoded stuff that nobody does anymore. 

Although I strongly believe that ARLIS itself should be a completely inclusive, non-discriminatory organization, I don't think we have the right to tell our members what other organizations they can and can't belong to. There is such a thing as freedom of association in the United States, even if others are offended by your choices.

Regarding giving awards and having speakers, that is a different issue, and we may want to consider Julie's suggestion -- but I don't think belonging to a gender specific club like the Club of Odd Volumes should be a reason not to honor someone. 

Karen Bouchard
Brown University


On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 2:24 PM, Heidi Rempel <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
While I, personally, dislike the idea of clubs that admit only men, I feel like that qualifier alone could be a problematic definition by which to gauge suitability for membership.  After all, as a graduate of a Seven Sisters college that has chosen not to go co-ed, I would feel rather hypocritical about insisting that a private entity should not decide inclusion/exclusion based on gender alone.  Yes, I know there are historical differences in the debate about privilege regarding men-only institutions and women-only institutions but still, it seems like it could be a problematic issue.  Are gender-specific organizations necessarily hate-based?  I would argue that no, they are not, even when I, personally, feel uncomfortable with the exclusion of women from prestigious men-only clubs.

I certainly think ARLIS should consider, if it doesn't already do so, defining itself as a safe and inclusive organization and insisting on its meeting places (online and in-person) adhering to those standards.  I do think, however, that we would need to think about where we would draw the line at banning people from joining but especially WHY we would draw the line. 

--
Heidi J. Rempel, MA MSLIS
Special Projects Manager
Seattle Chamber of Commerce

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--
Karen A. Bouchard
Scholarly Resources Librarian for Art and Architecture
Rockefeller Library, Box A
10 Prospect Street
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912  USA

Phone: (401) 863-3218

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If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero.

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Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/join.html Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.arlisna.org Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask]
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