Whether it was a waitress, or The Avon Lady, or a lower income woman who needed a ride Narc Mom was at her best self under those conditions because somehow the ‘inferior’ woman made her feel better about herself.
In fact the presence of such a woman helped to stabilize Narc Mom.
Eventually her daughter became that stabilizing woman.
It’s like she needs someone to pick on so that she can smile at someone else.
Always having to discharge aggression.
I guess Narc Mom was a bit of an alpha in that she would disrespect a particular woman in the group and the others would follow suit.
Kind of like the lead mare in a pen saying, “Me first,” in a condescending neigh or bray.
Quite primitive in fact.