Ballroom

Gender and space

The ballroom of the Palacio de Dos Aguas, which houses the Museo Nacional de Cerámica, is located on the main floor and is the most socially representative room of the palace. Society balls were hosted here, a function of great social relevance in the 19th century. Privately-hosted society balls were governed by a series of social norms that attributed specific roles to men and women. These norms are explained in various urban manuals published in Spain throughout the 19th century, reflecting the ideals of the bourgeoisie. Behind this set of norms lie the ideas around which gender identity was constructed in this specific socio-historical context.