I was hired at my company 13 years ago, I was surprised I got the job as my resume wasn't that great for the job I wanted and I knew they were interviewing a lot of candidates. Worked really hard, prepared really thoroughly, nailed the interview, got hired, even held out for more money and got it. And then I got to know my new boss, the man who made the hiring decision, total Right Winger. As the years went by, I realized that there's no way I would have been hired if I was anything other than a straight white male. Maybe I was still the best candidate, maybe not, but I know for a fact that guy wouldn't have hired me unless I was the right color and sex. Only worked for him for about a year, and have had amazing bosses since.
Did I work hard getting through college? Yes, I worked hard and got good grades and a degree that is very marketable. Did I work hard in my career before and since? Sure, I have added skills continuously, and I have networked really well. Was I some super disciplined paragon of hard work? No, I did what my peers were doing, I did enough to get by and get ahead, but I am not some wizard or some example of a crazy work ethic.
It's not lost on me that many who worked harder and were more disciplined and did more of the right things than I did didn't get rewarded the way I have been because they were the wrong color, or the wrong sex. And there's also a bit of dumb luck thrown in too. And those are the things too many are blind to. No one wants to hear they didn't work as hard as others, but got more. No one wants to hear that maybe they were just plain lucky to land the job they got either.
I think part of it is a martyr complex people want to have. "When I was young we had to..." It just doesn't dawn on most people that they have it easier than a lot of other people. And it doesn't dawm on people that the reason they have it easier might be race, sex, sexual orientation etc. etc.
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