In the practical sense a culture norm is a society's propensity towards certain ideals; their aversion from others; and their standard, ritualistic practices. Essentially what the 'norm' is a summation of typical activities and beliefs of group of people.
"Culture norm" is essentially a gentle stereotype. Often times a culture norm is fairly obvious, for instance Anglo-America is primarily capitalist, monogamous, religious with emphasis in liberal education for youth. However, objections of course arise when other culture groups come out and object.
However, in some views the culture norm is a not a practical summation but a constant oppression. Certain religious sects' disdain for homosexuality is likely not viewed as a positive culture norm by homosexuals. But the tides have been turned, in the United States alone democracy, abolition and suffrage have triumphed over prior abhorrence.
One of the pioneers objecting to culture norms was Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. In one of Rand's seminal works, The Fountainhead, she advances that the individual should have priorities over the society, as long as they do encroach on other individuals. This, opposite of altruistic practices like nationalism and patriotism, put the human ego as the ultimate judgment, not the culture. Thus, to her, it was not an act of rebellion but of right to disregard the thoughts of the masses for the self.
The culture norm stills exists, rampant in incessant public polling and ever-churning statistics. Essentially the picture present is not inaccurate per se, but everything is presented in dichotomies, disregarding middle ground and the gray areas that arise. Much of politics is approached and thus defined in polarization of this sort; this has seeped into (or came from) foreign policy, gaining cliché with George W. Bush's address to Congress in which a nation was "with us [the United States], or against us."
The way one views other countries, cultures or regions, like at this time the Middle East, is very much defined by the 'gentle stereotype' of social norms, i e they are Islamic, their women are veiled, etc.
But, just as our approach to ourselves leaves out the finer points of our culture, this leaves out the finer points of cultures abroad. Still it cannot be said that culture norms are not a useful tool is assessing foreign entities, or ourselves.
