As our interview with Kathy and Rebekah pressed on, it became increasingly clear that there was no lack of empathy between these sisters, although they expressed this aspect of themselves in very distinct ways. Becky could have talked through the night about how emotionally invested she is in the family law cases she handles, going into great detail about the impact this type of work has had on her. This same zealous advocacy for clients is very apparent in the other WBC lawyers my group has interviewed, such as Jonathan Phelps. Both Kathy and Becky expressed a strong sense of empathy for those who belong to marginalized groups.

We then spoke to Kathy about her estranged brother, Nate Phelps. She related to us that, despite their fragmented relationship, Kathy has a “soft spot” for her brother. These feelings for Nate may be unique to Kathy because she is able to relate to his situation. Having been formerly estranged from the church, she may be understanding of Nate’s perspective more so than other current members. Kathy also spoke to us about her eldest son, who is autistic, and her hope to one day open a center to help others with disabilities through sensory integration therapy. This left me with the impression that she feels a certain empathy for individuals with disabilities and possibly mothers with disabled children.