How the internet misread Vogue

By Aimee Duffy

‘Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now?’ is the question everybody is asking themselves after a Vogue article headline sparked controversy on social media. But it’s now clear that people don’t read articles – they only read headlines.  

The story may come across as tone-deaf or out of touch due to the bold headline that grabbed the attention of many. This has led people to believe that Vogue are saying that having a boyfriend really is embarrassing – which isn’t the case. The significant backlash has come from those who have read the headline and taken it as a personal attack before reading the full story. 

Modern dating culture has changed the way that many view having a boyfriend, specifically in a negative light. The author Chante Joseph covers how having a boyfriend isn’t seen as an achievement nowadays and why some women feel embarrassed to share their partner online. 

The story created a huge debate on TikTok as many women posted videos captioned “British Vogue you don’t have a clue” while ultimately posting a compilation of videos with their boyfriends. Despite the conflict online there are many people defending the article and the real meaning behind it. 

The article wasn’t written to come across as anti-boyfriend; it was written to show how women are their own people and the idea of having a partner isn’t a form of success in their lives. This also ties in with women being reluctant to share their boyfriend on social media as they don’t want to be seen as ‘boyfriend obsessed’. 

Although there are mixed opinions on the article which has been shared across social media, many people have shared that they do think it’s embarrassing to have a boyfriend. A top comment under British Vogue’s Instagram post says: “Having a boyfriend is a humiliation ritual.” The comment racked up more than six thousand likes, proving other women feel the same way and have had similar experiences. 

Sophie Milner, a content creator, admitted that having a boyfriend does affect how she posts on social media. She said: “Being single gives you this ultimate freedom to say and do what you want. It is absolutely not every woman, but I do notice that we can become beiger and more watered-down online when in a relationship – myself included.” This highlights the idea that women can find relationships restrict self-expression. 

Ultimately having a boyfriend isn’t embarrassing, social media has changed the way relationships are perceived and have caused people to feel pressured into appearing independent and successful. The article creates a new idea that happiness doesn’t have to come from having a partner, nor does it define a person’s self-worth.  

The controversy proves that many people tend to skim over headlines of articles which causes them to miss out on the real message behind the story. In the end, it’s easy to form an opinion from a bold headline but the article always shows the real message.