Can anyone else relate? Why is it so hard for them to just apologize??
My theory is that they are living in a world of hierarchies and apologizing is admitting a mistake, which takes them down a few levels on the hierarchy of power/popularity.
Yup exactly. I would even go so far as to say that insisting on getting an apology when they had no intention of hurting is tyrannic. "You were insensitive and now i'm hurt. Now i have the right to make you feel the same way!" -- No, doesn't compute.
Accidents of ignorance are unavoidable, but accountability is important.
We all make mistakes, what we do about them includes taking responsibility and apologizing, otherwise we're bound to repeat them and spoil relationships.
All very true. Now if it's something that repeatedly happens despite them now knowing it's hurtful? Well then even if the action itself isn't deliberate, the inaction to notice/stop or change can make it equivalent to being deliberate.
The problem with that is that you get the maliciously ignorant who'll staunchly refuse to learn and hide behind 'that wasn't my intention'/'I didn't mean to' etc. all while keeping up the hurt just as much as the first time.