If you are from the upper caste, the caste system is less visible to you. A lower caste person is reminded of their caste everyday.
If you are from the ‘fairer’ race, racism is harder for you to perceive. A black person is reminded of their race only too often.
If you are from the dominant gender, it is harder for you to sense sexism. Women are forced to reckon with their gender more often than men are.
If you have had a happy childhood and a caring family, it is harder for you to relate to somebody who hasn’t.
If you have grown in material abundance, you are more numb to a life lived in constant scarcity.
If you are endowed with a combination of these advantages, your numbness towards those who don’t is compounded.
Empathy is hard because we have a keen aware of our headwinds, but are rather oblivious to our tailwinds.
Observations 