Norms

While roles are expectations of appropriate behavior of an "occupant of a position toward other related positions" within a group, norms are commonly held beliefs of group members about appropriate behavior, attitudes, perceptions, and rules that regulate group members' behavior (Johnson & Johnson, 2009, p. 15). As soon as the women agree to pose for the calendar and their group is solidified, clear norms emerge that guide the behavior of the calendar girls throughout the experience. These norms are implicit, and, true to form, “develop out of the interaction among group members” (Johnson & Johnson, 2009, p. 17). The norms that bind the calendar girls are commitment, friendship, support, honesty, and trust. It seems as if the circumstances around the group of women allowed them to fall into these norms naturally and quickly: they were already friends that supported one another and came together to make a difference when their friend’s husband died. Additionally, the scandalous nature of the calendar, having to defend it to the WI and community, and having to pose nude in front of one another and the photographer requires utmost commitment, trust, and support. In fact, when Chris breaks the group norms by scheduling a commercial shoot without consulting the group, the trust norm is broken conflict within the group emerges for the first time. Additionally, the norm of questioning authority and (ironically!) the establishing community and society norms is pervasive from the inception of the calendar idea to it's fruition, as Chris is continuously pushing the limits of the envelope with her marketing ideas. Finally, not getting enough information before making a decision seems to be a less-positive norm that ends up both beneficial (the calendar was a hugely popular after all, and the calendar girls group immensely succeeded in their mission) and having caused personal frustration and distress. For example, the WI chapter leader did not listen to the full justification for making the calendar when she outright rejected the idea; Ruth lovingly sees her husband off again and again, choosing to ignore the fact that something must be wrong in their marriage; and Chris's son is agonized by his mother's potential lesbian situation and acts out in rebellion without full knowledge of the situation.