British Vogue’s article, “Having A Boyfriend Is Embarrassing Now?”, really got people talking. According to writer and influencer Chanté Joseph, this marks a shift in perception, where single women are now seen as cooler and the internet seems to agree!
For generations, women were told that marriage was the ultimate milestone, that missing it meant missing out on life. Today, that narrative no longer holds. Women don’t need husbands for financial stability, social approval, or a sense of self. Being single isn’t a temporary stop anymore; it’s a complete, fulfilling life of its own, not a waiting room.
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And on social media, self-sufficient, emotionally aware, single women are the main characters. So naturally, the question arises: why is having a boyfriend embarrassing now?
But let’s be clear, having a boyfriend isn’t embarrassing. Having the wrong one is.
So, below are ways boyfriends embarrass their girlfriends, and why the phrase “having a boyfriend is embarrassing” has suddenly become so relatable.
Why Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?
1. He Makes You Stressed Instead of Peaceful
One of the biggest reasons having a boyfriend is embarrassing is when he actively makes your life harder.
If you’re emotionally regulating a grown man, explaining basic empathy, or constantly “communicating” the same issues, you’re not in a relationship; you’re managing unpaid labor. Modern women are choosing peace, and anything that disrupts it looks outdated.
2. He Humiliates You In Public (Or Online)
If strangers on the internet respect you more than your partner does, the relationship becomes a liability.
Nothing makes having a boyfriend embarrassing faster than a man who jokes at your expense, flirts openly, follows questionable accounts, or publicly embarrasses you with “locker room humor.”
3. He’s Emotionally Incompetent, And Proud Of It
Weaponized emotional cluelessness isn’t cute anymore. When women are in therapy, journaling, healing, and growing, dating someone who refuses emotional responsibility feels like moving backward. This is a core reason people ask, “Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now?” Because emotional maturity is the new bare minimum.
4. He’s Jealous Of Your Independence
Successful, confident women shrinking themselves to protect a boyfriend’s ego is deeply out of style. If he resents your ambition, friendships, or freedom, the relationship stops being romantic and starts being restrictive. Single women look cooler because they don’t have to apologize for shining.
5. He Can’t Be Trusted
From micro-cheating to lying “to avoid conflict,” distrust is exhausting. Many women feel having a boyfriend is embarrassing when they’re constantly defending him, explaining his behavior, or pretending not to notice red flags everyone else sees.
Claiming a man who keeps humiliating you, privately or publicly, feels lame because it is.
6. He Refuses To Grow
Moving forward is attractive. Sticking to the same old thing? Not so much. When a woman’s growing and her guy is cool with staying put, the imbalance becomes obvious and awkward.
This is where why having a boyfriend is embarrassing really hits: because single women aren’t being held back by someone scared of change.
7. He Benefits More Than You Do
If your life gets smaller, heavier, or duller with him in it, people notice. And so do you. Relationships are supposed to add value, not drain it. No wonder having a boyfriend is embarrassing when the girlfriend is thriving despite the relationship, not because of it.
So… Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing?
Let’s answer it honestly:
Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? Only if the boyfriend is embarrassing.
This shift isn’t anti-love, it’s anti-mediocrity. Women aren’t rejecting relationships or their men but they’re rejecting relationships that require them to settle, shrink, or suffer.
How Men Can Treat You Better (And Stop Being The Problem)
If men want to stop being “out of style,” here’s how:
1. Be proud of her success instead of threatened by it
2. Respect her autonomy, don’t compete with it
2. Communicate consistently, not defensively
3. Show emotional intelligence, not emotional avoidance
4. Protect her dignity in public and private
5. And grow with her, not behind her
Read more here: 20 Girl Code Rules Every Girl Should Know!
Final Thought
The reason having a boyfriend is embarrassing right now isn’t because women hate love (or men). It’s because women finally love themselves enough to expect more. And once you’ve tasted freedom, self-respect, and peace, anything less looks painfully outdated.
What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
