Part 1
Yes.  Each individual has her/his own fears.  But individuals in the same situation share the same fears and apprehensions.  Also, many of us share the fears of those whose situation may be different, but about whom we care -- for one reason or another.  I am an older, white, middle class, professional woman, but I care very much about and fear much for the futures of the children living in the inner cities of my state and every other state.  I worry about young people who start out their professional lives with mountains of college debt.  I worry about those who are being taken advantage of every day by various for-profit colleges.  I worry about and fear for so many people -- not just myself.    
Quite frankly, I find offensive the proposition that we care only about ourselves and cannot understand or care about the needs of others.