Wadhwani 1 Dishti Wadhwani Mr. West APEL Period 3 16 February 2024 Wealth and Empathy Gap In the United States, 60 to 90% of pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome were terminated in 2022 (United States Congress Joint Economic Committee). Amidst ongoing debates surrounding disability rights and reproductive technologies, Sarah Zhang, Harvard graduate and writer at The Atlantic, emerges as a voice on the intersection of socio-economic privilege and empathy. In her article “The Last Children of Down Syndrome,” Zhang expresses fear that society could progress to eugenics and designer babies, ultimately allowing the wealthy to eradicate disability all together, making it a class issue. She argues that wealthier individuals, who have access to advanced reproductive technologies such as IVF and prenatal testing, will exhibit decreased empathy towards individuals with disabilities. The pursuit of wealth leads individuals to prioritize connections solely for personal gain, resulting in societal divisions and reduced empathy for those directly outside their social sphere. Wealthy people are less likely to understand and empathize with disabled people because they don’t actively pursue relationships beyond what directly benefits them. According to a study by the National Disability Institute, “fewer than one in three working-age adults (33 percent) with disabilities are employed, compared to 75 percent of adults without a disability” (Goodman et al.). This highlights the societal barriers that limit economic success for individuals with disabilities, reflecting the trend that disabled people are more likely to be of lower class. Discriminatory hiring practices, inaccessible workplaces, and inadequate support systems Wadhwani 2 contribute to the disproportionately low employment rates observed (Goodman et al.). In short, those with disabilities are less likely to get a job, let alone get a job that makes them wealthy, and thus most people with disabilities aren’t likely to be interacting with wealthy people. In interviews conducted by Thomas C. Corley with 177 American self-made millionaires, these people made a “conscious effort to only forge relationships with individuals they aspired to be: other rich and successful people” (Corley). This deliberate networking reflects a mindset geared towards financial success only. The emphasis on material wealth is especially pronounced in American society, from media portrayals to cultural norms, reinforcing the notion that financial success is the ultimate marker of worth, making these selective interactions especially present in American society. In a relentless quest for money, the focus on financial gain takes priority over meaningful human connections and empathy toward others. If a relationship doesn’t prove to be useful in some way, the chances of a wealthy person pursuing it is highly unlikely. Due to the fact that people with disabilities are unlikely to provide the wealthy some kind of inherent advantage with economic status, these relationships aren’t developed in such a way that both sides can understand each other beyond a physical standpoint. Selective approaches to social interaction fosters an environment where individuals are valued for their economic status and nothing beyond that. While it is true that wealthy people interact and do benefit from people with disabilities, such as through public appearances or charity, these interactions are largely surface level. The wealthy don’t take the time to understand the experiences and lifestyle of disabled, instead casting them aside as lesser because of their social status. The fact that interacting with disabled people is an event that needs to be showcased implies that the wealthy person is helping the disabled simply by acknowledging their existence. This perpetuates a cycle of exclusion and reinforces the existing divide between the wealthy and who they believe to be lesser than them, Wadhwani 3 ultimately diminishing empathy towards those outside their immediate social circle. Understanding that disabled people exist and understanding how they live are two very different things, but because the wealthy don’t pursue the relationships required to reach this level of understanding, there is an empathy gap between the two groups. By prioritizing relationships solely with individuals of similar economic status, people inadvertently isolate themselves from the diverse aspects of society, leading to a cycle of ignorance and apathy. This phenomenon underscores a broader truth: when people do not see or experience something first hand, they are less likely to empathize with it because they don’t understand the other perspective. This lack of understanding can lead to unfair judgment and prejudice towards individuals facing circumstances beyond their control. Someone might be judged for their socioeconomic status, health condition, or cultural background, simply because others fail to comprehend the challenges they face. Such judgment not only creates stereotypes and discrimination but also hinders collective efforts toward building a more inclusive and compassionate society. Wadhwani 4 Works Cited Corley, Thomas C. “I Studied 177 Self-Made Millionaires for 5 Years, and Learned That Rich People Deliberately Surround Themselves with Rich Friends. Here Are the Traits to Look for to Do the Same.” Business Insider, 21 Feb. 2020, www.businessinsider.com/rich-people-choose-friends-differently-2018-1. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024. “Down Syndrome and Social Capital: Assessing the Costs of Selective Abortion - Down Syndrome and Social Capital: Assessing the Costs of Selective Abortion - United States Joint Economic Committee.” Joint Economic Committee, 18 March 2022, https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/2022/3/down-syndrome-and-so cial-capital-assessing-the-costs-of-selective-abortion. Accessed 14 February 2024. Goodman, Nanette, et al. FINANCIAL INEQUALITY: Disability, Race and Poverty in America. National Disability Institute, Feb. 2019. Accessed 13 February 2024. Zhang, Sarah. “Prenatal Testing and the Future of Down Syndrome.” The Atlantic, 15 December 2020, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/12/the-last-children-of-down-syndro me/616928/. Accessed 15 February 2024.
