Why Women Have Stopped Posting Photos with Boyfriends: A New Trend on Social Media.

According to Vox: Recently, freelancer Chanté Joseph noticed an interesting trend on her social media: women have stopped posting pictures of their boyfriends.

Previously, images with partners were popular on social media. Be it during vacations or at home, these photos showcased a happy heterosexual life. As Joseph noted, 'the world where women's online identities revolved around their partners' lives was rarely seen in reverse.'

Now, boyfriends have almost vanished from the frames. You can only see a hand, a shadow, or the back of a head. However, men's faces are either obscured or blurred, 'as if they want to erase the fact of their presence by not posting them.'

Women have started living their own lives, and their boyfriends no longer serve their personal brands.

Chanté Joseph reflected on this in an article for Vogue titled 'Is Having a Boyfriend Shamed?' This article sparked significant interest, provoking a wave of discussions on TikTok and extending the conversation for weeks.

Host of Today, Explained Astead Herndon called Joseph to learn more about her article, the reaction to it, and modern relationships between men and women.

Attitudes Towards Romantic Relationships

You wrote what might be one of the most memorable articles of the year for Vogue, particularly about the topics you raised in a cultural context. Tell us about this article.

In the article, I questioned whether having a boyfriend has lost the social status it once provided women. I examined this through the lens of social media.

I noticed that women have become very cautious about posting photos of their romantic partners. Many of them began covering their boyfriends' faces with emojis. This probably started as a joke and then grew into people simply removing their partners' heads from pictures.

I also noticed that people post videos and photographs from their weddings or engagements but edit them so that no one can see how the man looks. And I thought, 'This looks quite extreme.'

Modern Trends in Relationships

You noted that you've seen boys actually 'hiding.' What did you find in your article, and what did you mean by 'shame'?

I found that there are three main reasons. First, people noted that they do not want to do this for reasons of privacy. I asked the question: 'Why only in this area of your life?' And then they explained: 'If I post a picture with a boyfriend and he cheats on me a week later, I will have to delete the photo... and relive that shame.'

But there were also women who found the idea of having a boyfriend so shameful that it contradicted their image. Many felt that 'if I post my boyfriend on Instagram or social media, I indicate something about myself to the world that I don't want them to know.'

'Why does having a boyfriend seem like something Republican?'

This phrase I quote in the article. It indicates that heterosexual romantic relationships seem to conform to conservative values. I feel this reflects a worldview that isn’t natural for me.

Changing Perceptions of Heterosexuality

Do you think the changes in the perception of heterosexuality are occurring against the backdrop of rising trends such as 'traditional wives' and others?

Yes, I think they are occurring simultaneously. I reflect on the reaction to my article — from men who were very angry that I might mention them in a negative light, to women who were upset about their relationships, feeling it was an attack on them.

The way we talk about relationships online has changed significantly. I spoke about series where women share bad experiences in relationships.

What do you think we've learned about heterosexual relationships from this situation?

I think people are still trying to maintain the privilege that comes with being in relationships, especially in heterosexual ones. And for some people, their anger towards this article was related to the realization that they might lose that privilege.

Do you believe that after all this, guys have become more or less shameful for you?

Honestly, I lean towards them being more shameful. You cannot deny that men in this context look unfavorable. And women with boyfriends who take offense at this article look even more shameful. So maybe I need to look at it differently.

The trends spoken about by Joseph confirm the growing desire of women on social media to be more autonomous. Depending on the context, this may indicate changing perceptions of roles and identity in modern relationships. The interest in this topic, particularly through her article, indicates that discussions surrounding romantic connections will remain relevant and important in society. Through such research, we can better understand how the world around us is changing.