Well, potentially. A few weeks ago, Vogue put out an article that debates whether or not having a boyfriend is embarrassing. Writer Chanté Joseph broke the internet with this piece. All the single ladies came to social media thrilled that a world-famous magazine deemed that it’s possible that “boyfriends are out of style.”
Joseph does not criticize women in relationships but instead analyzes the rise of misandry that has become apparent over the last few decades. The brokenhearted have slandered the male species so much that relationship girls are scared to advertise their boyfriends, or they might receive a DM request.
Joseph noticed how women are alerting their social media pages that they have a boyfriend. By normalizing soft-launching, “women are obscuring their partner’s face when they post, as if they want to erase the fact they exist without actually not posting them,” Joseph says.
Single and Married Women Think Alike
The singles are not the only ones against men at this point, either. Joseph referenced the Delusional Diaries podcast hosted by the influencer duo Haley and Jaz, where they debated whether having a boyfriend was lame. The irony of it all is that Haley is in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Reed, and Jaz has a husband.
So, if the happily married are worried about their reputation by posting with their partner, why would the singles go find their own?
The influence that public figures have on the rest of the world is captivating. Like Joseph said, the script is shifting. Powerful women are boycotting men and still becoming CEOs, musicians and doctors; making their own money and opportunities. Walking the red carpet with a man on your arm does not earn the same applause that a Birkin would.
Fall in love, don’t fall in love, it is all the same thing now. Women are done boasting about their partner because “men will embarrass you 12 years in,” says Nikki, a woman who responded to Joseph’s poll on Instagram that asked why men are not being posted anymore.
Like All Nice Things, Social Media Ruined This
The men did the damage that caused women to be embarrassed by them, yes, but thirsty journalists also tainted public relationships. For years, women could not accomplish anything without a reporter asking what their mediocre boyfriend was doing at home.
And it is already hard enough to get over a partner, imagine doing that while your break up headlines multiple articles. To name a few: Taylor Swift, Jennifer Anniston and Selena Gomez all could not leave their houses without being pummeled with questions about their cheating ex-boyfriends. Although when Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake and Harry Styles were seen out, it was nothing but excited squeals.
As a result, women have gained independence as a protection of their reputation, brand and overall peace. The shift from misogyny to misandry is revolutionary to women’s history, and the men are not happy about it.
So although Joseph did not conclude her article with a final consensus on the topic, she left it up to interpretation.
What do you think? Is having a boyfriend embarrassing? Let us know @VALLEYmag on X.
