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Essay on Nepotism: What is nepotism? Why is it bad? What is the relationship between nepotism and favouritism? According to the Oxford Dictionary, Nepotism is the practice of using your power or influence to favour your family, friends, or relatives in an occupation or field. In 2023, The Archies was released by Zoya Akhtar, starring Agastya Nanda, Suhana Khan, and Khushi Kapoor. You might be wondering what’s the problem with these names. There was none until a debate sparked on social media about all of these being star kids. Critics called it a ‘Nepo Kid Fest’, a sign of rotten Bollywood. Supporters, on the other hand, say it is a storm in a teacup, and marketing experts say it will only help the film industry. Today, we bring to light the reality of nepotism, why it is bad and unethical, and what its consequences are.
Table of Contents
Essay on Nepotism in 850 Words
Nepotism is the practice of using one’s power or influence for the benefit of their family or friends. A successful movie star, politician, or businessman is more likely to support his or her child by using their influence in the industry. The most popular example of nepotism is seen in the film industry, where actors launch their children for new movie roles, giving them an edge over others.
The charge and practice of nepotism have been around for a while now. Critics say it’s favouritism towards your loved ones. Today, the hate for nepotism has become an industry itself. One of the top hashtags on social media is #boycottnepotism and the New York magazine called the year 2022 the ‘Year of Nepo Baby’, and even had a cover published featuring Nepo kids from Hollywood.
How did Nepotism Emerge?
Nepotism finds its roots in the Catholic church. In Latin, ‘Nepos’ means ‘nephews’. Popes would appoint their nephews to cardinal positions. They did not have their own children so nephews were the best option. It was considered the best option to continue the ‘Papal Dynasty’.
History books tell us the story of Aristotle and Plato, the Ancient Greek Philosophers. Some historians claim that Aristotle may have been a victim of nepotism. His teacher, Plato, had a leadership position in the academy, and Aristotle thought he was a prodigy and that he was the right candidate. But Plato gave it to his nephew instead.
Charles Darwin, the man who told us how we evolved, was himself a product of nepotism. A man named Erasmus Darwin wrote a theory on evolution. Even Charlie Chaplin, the man who made the whole world laugh, was too nepotistical. His parents, Hannah & Charles Chaplin Sr., were famous British comic performers. Nepotism is as old as time and is widely practiced, starting with Kings and Queens.
John F. Kennedy, the 35th American President, appointed his brother Robert F. Kennedy as the US Attorney General. His brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver, became the First Director of the US Peace Corps. By 1967, nepotism had become so prevalent that American lawmakers had to come up with a law banning federal officials from hiring close relatives. It was called the Bobby-Kennedy Law.
What’s shocking is that nepotism thrives in democracies like India as well. In India, democracy came with dynasty politics. The Gandhi-Nehru family is the prime example of nepotism in politics. They have a monopoly over one of the main political parties in India. India has more than 34 prominent political dynasties across parties, religious lines, and states.
Why is Nepotism Bad?
Nepotism is rampant in courtrooms, boardrooms, and the hallowed halls of the legislature and judiciary. Data released by an American agency stated that by age 30, about 22% of American sons will be working for the same employer as their fathers and they will be doing so at the same time as their fathers.
- Nepotism Undermines Meritocracy: Nepotism often places unqualified individuals in positions of power, sidelining talented, skilled, and deserving candidates.
- Affects Organisational Growth: Favouritism can suppress innovation and creativity as positions are filled based on relationships rather than fresh ideas and perspectives.
- Creates Unfair Work Environment: It creates an unfair work environment, leading to resentment and low morale among employees not part of the favored circle.
- Damages Reputation and Erodes Trust: Organisations favouring nepotism may suffer from a damaged reputation, affecting their ability to attract top talent and customers.
- Nepotism‘s Gender Problem: It has a gender imbalance, where men tend to benefit more from it.
- Long-Term Consequences: It jeopardizes the long-term sustainability of organisations by undermining the foundations of merit and competency.
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Consequences of Nepotism
Those practicing nepotism are more likely to enjoy positive consequences, but that’s not the case with those who are victims of it. Nepotism can have negative consequences for employee morale, organizational performance, and public perception.
- Nepotism Reduces Employee Morale and Motivation: Employees who see others advance based on personal connections rather than merit can become demoralized.
- Affects Productivity and Efficiency: Nepotism can lead to less competent individuals being placed in important roles, resulting in inefficiencies and mistakes.
- Erodes Trust and Loyalty: Trust among employees and between staff and management can erode, leading to a toxic work environment.
- Nepotism Destroys Organisational Leadership: The damaging practice of nepotism frequently results in unqualified individuals being placed in leadership or expert roles.
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Conclusion
Nepotism is not a new practice and it will exist in the future as well. Everyone wants to favour their loved ones over others, whom they consider strangers The question is not about who is qualified or not, because when it comes it nepotism, everybody wants better positions or roles just because they have connections. These connections are not good for society, as those who deserve them feel cheated.
So what do we do? Raising awareness and highlighting its negative consequences can be a good option. Then there are stringent laws, which can at least reduce the practice of favouritism. Every individual deserves an opportunity based on his or her skills and qualifications, not on connections.
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Nepotism Examples
Here are some common examples of nepotism. Beware of these examples, you might have practiced any of them.
- Education: Children of wealthy and influential parents are admitted to elite schools or educational institutions, also known as ‘Legacy Admissions’.
- Workplace: Donald Trump appointed his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner to senior advisory roles in the White House during his presidency, despite their lack of traditional political experience.
- Entertainment Industry: Bollywood actors Alia Bhatt, Janvi Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Varun Dhawan, Ranbir Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Salman Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Pandey, Shraddha Kapoor, etc. are all examples of nepotism in the entertainment industry.
- Political Arena: The Kennedy family in the United States, the Bhutto family in Pakistan, and the Gandhi-Nehru family in India are all examples of nepotism in politics.
FAQs
Ans: Start by describing what nepotism is and add factual information or questions to hook the reader. Take for example, ‘Nepotism, which is the practice of using one’s power or influence for the benefit of their family or friends. A successful movie star, politician, or businessman is more likely to support his or her child by using their influence in the industry. The most popular example of nepotism is seen in the film industry, where actors launch their children for new movie roles, giving them an edge over others.
Ans: Nepotism is rampant in courtrooms, boardrooms, and the hallowed halls of the legislature and judiciary. Nepotism undermines meritocracy, affects organisational growth, creates an unfair work environment, damages the reputation and erodes trust, causes nepotism‘s gender problem, and has other long-term consequences.
Ans: Star kids in Bollywood and Hollywood, like Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kaia Gerber, etc. are all examples of nepotism in the entertainment industry. Donald Trump appointed his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner to senior advisory roles in the White House during his presidency, despite their lack of traditional political experience. The Kennedy family in the United States, the Bhutto family in Pakistan, and the Gandhi-Nehru family in India are all examples of nepotism in politics.
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