How does Patty's mother abuse her?

Patty's mother's abuse is not physical, but rather emotional. She puts Patty down, insults her appearance, and wishes her daughter was a bit "more" like her. Patty's mother also engaged in publicly demeaming her youngest daughter in front of others, comparing her to her sister Sharon..... obviously preferring one over the other. Her mother made her see herself as ugly and skinny, she destroyed the young girl's self-esteem.