I've grown up in a place with an eerily similar surface culture to the one you've described, with one major difference: the women, for the most part, worked. Hard.

In fact, a lot of them were highly successful in their careers, and either matched or even (occasionally) out-earned their spouses.

The drinking, abuse, pill taking, shallowness, catty behavior, conformity, and singular focus on appearances are all there, with the added issue of workaholism as either an escape or an obsession. It's seriously ruined so many kids' childhoods and these people are NOT happy.

I hope things shift toward a better culture there and in other places like it, because what these women and their generally meh husbands need most of all is a huge dose of empathy. And maybe some realism, while they're at it...they were all super out-of-touch.

I really love your perspective on things and I'm glad I discovered you! Thanks for writing!