I fear the problem here is, there is no real reason to expect someone would learn empathy by receiving repulsive, sexist treatment from "the common folks" and the likes, i.e. the very people you expect the person subjected to such behavior gain empathy for. If anything, having this sort of experience is only likely to breed even more resentment, and this time it would be, for a change, quite informed and justified.
It's kind of like expecting a rich kid who gets mugged for lunch money to develop understanding and empathy for their assaulters.