Lily-Rose Depp, Zoe Kravitz, Gracie Abrams. As the new generation of celebrities emerges, the public has noticed that some of these names outdate their holders. This familiarity stems from their lineage, specifically predecessors who have made significant contributions that have drawn external attention. The continuous emergence of these celebrities poses the question: “is fame genetic or systemic?”
“Nepo baby,” which is short for “nepotism baby,” is a term used for a successful individual with an accomplished relative in a related industry. Nepotism is the practice of receiving preferential treatment because of pre-existing personal connections. This implies that the determining factor of one’s success is their innate connectivity, rather than talent. This discreditation of the person’s talent has led to widespread discourse about nepotism.
Nepo babies are typically granted additional time and funding from their employers that others are less likely to receive. This allows for the promotion of their success by honing agilities and expanding outreach, while enforcing stagnation on others. Controversy sparks as people debate whether the individual’s talent warrants this preferential treatment, or if they are only awarded opportunity because of their connections. The answer can vary greatly depending on the field, as talent can be quantified through a variety of metrics depending on the evaluator.
More discourse occurs regarding the magnitude of privilege allotted by nepotism. It could be argued that an individual with a minimum wage catering position at a small family business has nepotism, as their employment is a direct result of their lineage. However, the scale of this example of nepotism is incomparable to an individual who has become a celebrity in a multi-million-dollar industry. The advantages of nepotism are variable, as the weight that the connection carries fluctuates depending on the industry.
While success could be linearly correlated with opportunity, it is possible that nepotism is a result of subconscious bias of consumers as well. As creatures of habit, humans tend to gravitate towards subjects of familiarity. For example, rather than listening to a new song from a new artist, one may choose an unfamiliar song from a familiar artist. This process could be potentially unfolding among those allotting opportunities and those consuming the nepo baby’s productions, significantly impacting career trajectories.
“As creatures of habit, humans tend to gravitate towards subjects of familiarity.”
Ultimately, nepotism is a form of privilege that arises from interconnected relationships across various disciplines. Though it often leads to inequity, bias is an inherent part of human nature that influences decision-making. The only way to reduce nepotism in industries is through sustained, collective efforts to address and combat implicit biases.