Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing?

In today’s dating culture, where everyone is either soft launching, situationshipping, or pretending they don’t care…it almost feels controversial to say you have a boyfriend. Thanks to a recent Vogue article making its rounds, Amelia and Lilly dive into the very real (and very funny) question:

Is having a boyfriend… embarrassing now?

This episode unpacks the weird social pressure young women feel in their 20s: wanting connection, craving independence, and also low-key worrying that posting your boyfriend will ruin your mysterious internet aura.

The hosts break down the cultural shift they’re seeing everywhere: independence is trending, relationships are treated like an aesthetic choice, and the internet has definitely influenced how we feel about commitment.

The Real Takeaway

This Vogue debate isn’t really about boyfriends — it’s about how much pressure we put on ourselves in our 20s to look a certain way, date a certain way, or be single a certain way. The goal?

Do whatever feels right for your life, not your feed.

Takeaways

• Relationship culture has changed — independence is trendy, and commitment gets weirdly judged.
• Social media shapes how we think our love lives “should” look.
• Whether you’re single, cuffed, or somewhere in-between, your identity doesn’t disappear.
• Being in a relationship isn’t embarrassing — pretending you don’t want connection might be.

Related Episodes:

• Ghosts of Boyfriends Past
• The Crash-out Episode

Dating In Your 20s Anonymous Corner

We’d love to hear from you! Check out the anonymous DIY20s Form. It’s a safe, judgment-free space to share what’s going on in your love life.

Connect:

Lilly Wehman: Millennium | LinkedIn
Amelia Abernathy: Millennium | LinkedIn

This podcast is powered by Millennium Counseling Center in Chicago, IL. To learn more visit: millenniumhope.com