Part I: Expanding the definition of the normative order to include dress norms

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to present a current sociological definition of the normative order and then use reported deficiencies in the definition as a basis for proposing an expanded definition. The proposed expansion of Blake and Davis's (1964) definition is as follows: The normative order consists of shared standards or rules which specify what human beings should or should not think, say, or do, and how human beings should or should not look under given circumstances. Additionally, in Part I, we demonstrated how the expanded definition allows identification of the shared norms that comprise a normative order for dress and the eight dimensions along which they vary. This paper provides evidence from late twentieth century newspapers that there is a normative order for dress in our society that can be identified and documented using the expanded definition. The expanded definition of the normative order does not solve all the deficiencies in the current definition but does address some and suggests ways of addressing others.