Conversely, it’s hard to care about literature when you don’t have empathy.

Of course, the question remains how much people with low empathy are willing to pick up a book on their own volition. Though at least studies have shown (here is one) that reading fiction increased empathy even when people were not particularly empathic to begin with.

Serious response: Studies have proven again and again that reading fiction increases empathy. Many English teachers probably chose their jobs because they had a love for literature in the first place and their exposure to it has had its effect on them. [In that regard the absolute worst people on this planet are well aware of this effect and attack libraries, books with diverse viewpoints and the humanities whenever they get a chance to.]

Yeah, that’s the current scientific consensus.

For those who are unfamiliar with the science: Being trans is considered a developmental disorder nowadays. It is mostly likely due to an imbalance of sex hormones during fetal development. Basically the testes produce sex hormones which leads to the development of sex organs associated with one gender, but (for yet to be determined) reasons the same sex hormones do not affect the brain which thus develops into a different direction, thus creating the “gender incongruence” that affects trans people lateron.