Inequality has always been a difficult battle to fight — from sexism and racism to abortion rights and equal work pay — there are still people who can’t enjoy the privilege, equal rights, and opportunities they deserve. Lately, the internet’s been talking about nepo babies. Some are going crazy over the fact that there’s a term for some celebrities, musicians, and children of powerful people who’ve been in the limelight for as long as anyone can remember — and the “regular” people aren’t pleased about these big shot and A-list kids’ success and stardom. Here’s why.
Definition
“Nepo” in nepo babies comes from the word Nepotism. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word, “favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship.” Nepotism is evident in the entertainment industry. Many have called the Kardashian-Jenner family to be nepotists — people lament that their existing careers in front of the camera gave the Jenner sisters better work opportunities. Hence, why the road to their success as a Victoria’s Secret model and entrepreneur for a billion-dollar makeup line was easier — the family denies nepotism to be the reason for their achievements. Other celebrities who’ve been called nepo babies:
Maya Hawke(Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke’s daughter)
Jaden Smith and Willow Smith(Jada Pinkett and Will Smith’s children)
Maude Apatow(Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow’s daughter)
Dakota Johnson(Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson’s daughter)
Kate Hudson (Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson’s daughter)
Dealing with a Nepo Baby
Hollywood isn’t the only place to find nepo babies. Nepotism is also prevalent in many workplaces. If you’re in a situation where your potential for growth or success has been hindered by a favored relative of your employer, know that you’re not alone. As much as you want to call out nepotism in your workplace, there’s a fine line between fighting against injustice, and acting hostile towards a nepo baby that may or may not have also worked just as hard to be in your spot (or higher than you). If there’s a way for you to respectfully and gracefully call out the attention of an unbiased employer, you can try doing just that. Nepo babies aren’t always to blame for the “easy money” and success handed to them. Chances are, they might not even be aware of the majority of people’s reality and day-to-day life. However, if you feel that inequality is evident and unbearable, thoroughly think about what you want to decide on doing next — you can opt to remain silent and work like you normally do (or until your boss notices your hard work and your job finally pays off) or you can walk away and take a path with fewer speed bumps to traverse.
Finally
It’s difficult to point a finger on who’s to blame for nepotism. Most nepo babies don’t like to be associated with that term as it has negative connotations. Nepotism, as a whole, is widespread and your decision on how to handle it is entirely up to you — as long as it’s not to the detriment of others.
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