34% Believe ‘Nepo Babies’ Need To Be Criticized for How They Obtained Opportunities

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in criticism towards “nepotism babies” or “nepo babies”. This term refers to the children of (established) celebrities who often find success in careers similar to, or closely associated with their famous parents.

Nepotism has become prevalent across various industries, including entertainment, politics, and business. This practice tends to evoke many negative emotions such as discouragement, demotivation, and resentment. The reason behind these sentiments is often the belief that there are individuals who may be more skilled or talented than the children or relatives of said established celebrities.

However, it is worth noting that there are also instances where the children of established individuals have genuine talent and capabilities.

Recognizing the mixed perspectives surrounding this issue, Real Research, an online survey app, conducted a comprehensive survey to gather public opinion on whether ‘Nepo Babies’ deserve the hate they receive.

The survey aimed to provide insights into the prevailing sentiments and shed light on the overall perception of this phenomenon. Here are the key findings from the survey:

Key Findings

• 15.49% of respondents feel that nepotism undermines fairness and equal opportunity.
• “Nepo babies” may not be necessarily talented or deserving of their position or opportunity, say 24.8%
• According to 18.1%, nepotism can result in missed opportunities for qualified individuals.

The survey mostly reveals opinions that disfavor nepotism, citing various causes and effects.

Firstly, the survey indicates that up to 36% are somewhat aware of the concept of nepotism, while 31% are well aware. Only 33% are unaware.

Nepotism is a common concept, one which exists in most organizations and industries. A survey question asked respondents about their opinion on nepotism in organizations. 15% feel nepotism undermines fairness and opportunity, while 15% felt nepotism can sometimes help identify skilled and knowledgeable individuals.

14% feel it can perpetuate inequality and hinder social progress. Another 14% feel it hinders growth or success in an organization, while 13% believe that nepotism can create conflicts of interest in an organization.

Lastly, 12% suggest nepotism can limit diversity and inclusivity in an organization.

Respondents’ Opinions on Nepo Babies

Individuals who gain the benefit of the practice of nepotism are referred to as ‘nepo babies’. Respondents were next asked for their opinions on nepo babies. Nearly a quarter of the respondents (25%) feel that nepo babies may not necessarily be talented or deserving of their position or opportunity. Whereas a further 16% feel that although nepo babies have benefitted from familial connections, they must be evaluated on their merits.

Next, 15% of respondents feel that nepo babies can undermine the principles of fairness and equality, whereas 14% believe that nepo babies can perpetuate inequality and hinder social progress.

11% then feel nepotism is problematic, but those who benefit from the practice may be talented or deserving of their position.

The above findings suggest that nepotism is a problematic practice that undermines equality and fairness but also hinders growth and progress. In these cases, nepo babies may not necessarily be deserving of their position or opportunity. However, they must be assessed based on their merits, despite acquiring the opportunities through familial connections.

The Treatment of Nepo Babies

In past decades, nepotism was downplayed and normalized in several organizations and industries, however, times are changing. People are becoming increasingly intolerant of the practice of nepotism. This has resulted in increased pressure and criticism of nepo babies from society for acquiring opportunities through influence rather than their own merits.

The survey then proceeds to ask if such treatment of nepo babies is justified. The above figure demonstrates that a collective 66% feel it is justifiable to treat nepo babies this way; 34% feel it is “highly justified” and 32% feel it is “fairly justified.”

In contrast, 17% feel it is somewhat hard to justify. While 6% believe it is totally unjustified. 11% are unsure about this.

Damaging Effects of Nepotism in an Organization

Nepotism can have damaging effects when present in an organization. When asked about this in a survey question, 18% felt it could cause qualified individuals to miss opportunities. While 16% say that it fosters low morale and discouragement. 15% suggest that it damages the reputation and credibility of an organization, while 14% say it can create a culture of favoritism and exclusion.

A further 10% feel it can limit diversity and inclusivity. At the same time, 15% cited other factors.

As such, certain sectors are more prone to nepotism than others. A survey asked respondents about the same. The respondents said politics and government (12%), business and finance (10%), sports (10%), hospitality and tourism (9%), fashion (9%), entertainment and media (8%), law (6%), military and law enforcement (7%), education (6%), real estate (5%), medicine (5%), and others (13%).

The above suggests that politics and government and the business and finance fields are most prone to the concept of nepotism compared to medicine and real estate are the least prone.

Nepotism Prevalent in Certain Cultures

Next, the survey asks respondents if they feel nepotism is prevalent in certain cultures only. 29% of the respondents are definite about this, while 33% are probable about this. 18% feel nepotism is probably not prevalent in select cultures, while 8% say it definitely is not. A reported 12% are unsure.

Is Nepotism Inherently Wrong, or Are There Exceptions?

While nepotism may be a questionable practice to many, there may be instances where there are exceptions. When asked about this, 26% are seemingly unsure about this. However, 24% feel nepotism is generally wrong, whereas 16% say it is always wrong. In contrast, 21% suggest that there are instances where nepotism is justified, and 13% say nepotism is not wrong.

Overall, the survey findings reveal that nepotism as a practice can have several adverse effects on an organization. It can hinder growth and success while fostering low morale. However, there are certain exceptions to nepotism. Nepotism is usually debated based on the argument that nepo babies are not as talented or skilled as their unfavored counterparts, but there are instances where nepo babies are equally if not more talented.