Accurate descriptions.
Plus all the money it has taken for most families to achieve the goal of the "great assembly".
Time off work, vehicle in good repair, hotel costs, food costs and dont forget to donate!
For women especially, the assemblies are hell. Even in this day and age, women judge each other by hair, clothing and makeup.
Only the JWs have their own weird frame of reference for what is the top shelf look.
If you wear modest, long, flowing dress, mousy hair and makeup and are a pioneer, you RULE the look!
If you are a man, any suit will do, its that bowing and scraping to the elders and getting in your 10 hours a month that will look good on you. As a bomnus, volunteer in parking at the assembly where you get the blessing of standing for hours while rude people who dont want to be there ignore you sweating in your best suit on their behalf.
The other look that is envied is the extremely well to do look. While this is frowned on by the Org officially and while you probably wont get many "privileges" this is still a look that matters. Drive a great car, a great suit, nice jewelry and, Louboutins or DKNYs and a Kate Spade purse for the woman and you will get silent but very real admiration.
Of course, the tight, strapless and/or backless dressed will also get noticed, with pursed lips by the "sisters" and carefully suppressed sighs by their glared at husbands, especially if there is a tattoo involved.
I have seen many sisters feeling flattened under the weight of all this, crying while getting ready in the morning or in the evening if the day didnt go right.
Sucking back tears to get the kids down to the pool, because as we all know....that is the ONLY fun things the kids will get.