By Sophie Albertie
I’m glad Chante Joseph brought this up.
The article “Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now?” was published in the opinions section of Vogue Thursday, Oct 29. The response across social media from other women has been major: Perhaps even more embarrassing.
Self proclaimed lover-girls are scrambling to make their man the exception to this conversation. “Sorry Vogue,” one post reads, “but having a boyfriend is only embarrassing when he’s a loser.”
That makes two of you girl, the projection is real.
I say conversation because it was never a rule, one thing the romantics would know if they actually read Joseph’s piece. Instead, most reactionaries have simply taken the admittedly polarizing headline at face value.
I’m surprised by this unconvincing army and the lack of literary comprehension. They jump to validate a man as another way to validate themselves.
Here’s my question: Does he watch the videos of you defending him with your life? A performance needs an audience and you need a job, especially when the stage is laid with a patriarchal foundation. Perhaps “you are your own voyeur,” or whatever Margaret Atwood said in “The Robber Bride.”
Love and relationships are beautiful wondrous things, but the prospect of having someone to claim should never have been an accomplishment. Joseph says this, very gently. Tying the statement to the point of a newfound era that comes from decentering romantic love from one’s shelf of trophies.
Let’s erase the narrative of man-hater. It’s 2025. Put your phone down, we as a society are allowed to talk about slightly unconventional perspectives in this house.
