Because ein Claifornia and the South, there is a strong culture that woman are what their bodies are. what our brains or the souls look like is not intresting. We have a value as window dressing. I grew up in central california, and although it is not as bad as LA, it was pretty bad. Althoug I was not over weight (I am square and short coupled which makes me look heavier than I am) My mother had me on diets since I wqs in thrid grade and my PE teachers eeven told a nurse who caliper tested me that she was wrong when the nurse said I hade below normal fat to muscle ratio. In front of me. I could frigging flunk school, but not be pretty and lean, that was unforgivable. One of my friends mentioned had never had problems with such stuf until she moved to Cali. It's not a good place in many respects. Glad you found someplace beter. Huggs!