Stuff Mom Never Told You Monday Mini: Are Boyfriends Embarrassing? (Part 1)
Nov 17, 2025
A recent Vogue article sparked a lively discussion on whether having a boyfriend is now considered embarrassing. The hosts examine why some people prefer the term 'partner' and how social pressures shape our perceptions of relationship labels. They also delve into the historical shifts in partnership roles and the implications of public relationships in the age of social media. Jealousy and cultural backlash against women changing their relationship statuses further complicate the conversation, as they explore whether single life is becoming the new ideal.
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Partnership's Status Has Shifted
- Vogue's question "Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing?" reflects a cultural shift in how partnership confers status for women.
- Samantha McVey and Anney Reese argue partnership no longer affirms womanhood the way it once did.
Personal Naming Dilemma
- Samantha McVey shares discomfort calling her long-term cohabiting partner "boyfriend" and sometimes uses "partner."
- She worries the term "partner" can feel like hiding or minimizing the relationship publicly.
Wanting Benefits Without The Label
- The episode notes women now want the social benefits of partnership without appearing "boyfriend-obsessed."
- That tension reflects broader cultural ambivalence about heterosexual partnership.