A woman’s identity is not determined by her relationship status, but a recent Vogue article suggests otherwise, belittling and harming their readership and women in relationships at large.
The piece titled “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” by Chanté Joseph gained attention from its shocking title and content voicing new ideas. The article proposes that a boyfriend decreases a woman’s social status and outlines that being single is more desirable than being in a relationship.
The notion that it is embarrassing to have a boyfriend is mindless and gives power to a man’s role in a woman’s life. It implies that women lose self-sufficiency or a sense of self in a relationship, which is problematic.
The conversations surrounding the article promote individuality and independence for single women, and while this is beneficial, it does not empower those in relationships. Women should be uplifted, whether they have a boyfriend.
Vogue is an influential media platform and is tailored towards a female audience, reaching 86.2 million readers online and 167.5 million followers on social media. With this large outreach, their content is influential.
The article caught attention, including coverage from USA Today and CNN. USA Today encapsulated the article and its reviews, and a CNN reporter hosted an interview with Joseph, the author of the original piece. These publications increase this article’s circulation, making the ideas more prominent.
Joseph’s idea also took social media platforms by storm, with single women praising themselves on TikTok and Instagram for not having a boyfriend, minimizing those who do. However, some women criticized the idea, believing it only applies to unhealthy relationships and it validates emotional avoidance.
Putting people down in relationships implies that a romantic partner greatly influences individual identity. So even if a woman is accomplished and has established a great life for herself, her identity could still be devalued by simply having a boyfriend.
This is a setback for feminism. Determining a woman’s value based on her association with men opposes equality, and scrutinizes them for decisions in their personal lives, which is harmful for female audiences.
It is solely a woman’s choice to decide to be in a relationship, and it should be treated as such.
Pushing the narrative to be single also overlooks the benefits of a relationship. According to Northwestern Medicine Psychologist, Sheehan D. Fisher, healthy romantic partnerships provide companionship, decrease stress and promote healthier lifestyle behaviors.
Even though being in a relationship can improve a woman’s life, it is not required. Being single is advantageous, too. Women can allot more time for their career and academic success, spend time in reflection and live independently.
Both scenarios are beneficial, so it is unnecessary for media platforms to try to persuade audiences one way or another. It is an individual decision that should be treated accordingly.
Especially given that Vogue writes predominantly for females, it is ignorant for them to criticize the majority of their audience and imply their identities are tied to men.
The push for women’s independence is a beneficial movement; however, it should not be at the expense of putting those in relationships down.
This story was written by Amelia Lerret. She can be reached at [email protected].
