The Nepotism Debate: Human Nature or Abuse of Power?
There’s no manual to how life works. You just have to pray for grace. I know that not everything will come to me on a silver platter, so I go out there and find the party, invite myself to it and meet the silver platter and the people eating from it. Then, I get what I want from that silver platter. At the end of the day, I make sure to get what I want. That’s just it.
Favoritism and nepotism is something we all speak about but no one talks about it when they’re the ones benefiting from it. I for one don’t think favoritism and nepotism is bad because if I was the one benefiting from it, I would enjoy it and use it to all my advantage. We all have at least once in our lives enjoyed favoritism in one way or the other. Sometimes there’s no option than to take the hand that is behind extended to you. In our part of the world where everything is working against us, most of us pray and wish we had people who would help us in a little way to make our efforts worth it.
Imagine me going through the Ghanaian educational system for years, graduate and have no job at the end of the day. And a ministers kid or long distance relative who doesn’t even have half my qualifications gets the opportunity to have my dream job. That isn’t fair but that’s what it is. If I should also get a family member in a higher position who is willing to help me secure a job at that same company, I will surely go for it. Because my morality won’t put food on the table. And it wouldn’t even be fair that someone without the qualifications has that same job and me with the full qualifications is rejecting the job because it is favoritism.
Now, imagine going for an interview as a man and there’s also a beautiful lady who is also apply for the same job as you. Most people will give the job to the lady and her beauty is her unfair advantage. This isn’t even about favoritism, this is about using your unfair advantage to get what you want. There are other places where men will also be highly favored over women. You just have to find which place will best serve you and go there.
Too much of everything however is bad, but if it’s a one time thing which will be a stepping stone for me and will set me up in my life, why not. Life is an unfair game, sometimes you need to use what you have to get what you want. Everyone does it, what matters at the end of the day is how you will utilize that opportunity being handed to you.
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Fact, nepotism and favouritism is an issue to many, but when they benefit from it they don't see it as a problem, those who benefit from nepotism don't see it as bad. The truth is I can't even find myself in a position where I have to help and not think of family and love ones first, that's in human nature. We always want to help those we love and know.
Where this act of nepotism becomes really bad to me is when it affects those who truly Merit such position, when they abuse power just to employ a family member or friends who doesn't qualify or merit for such position.
Well said!
Thanks for passing by.