A Vogue article by Chante Joseph titled ‘Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing’ has gone viral online prompting candid confessions and think pieces.

Journalist with the Irish Independent Saoirse Hanley said she disagrees with the article's consensus that having a man in your life is, ultimately, an embarrassment.

“I think maybe what I wish maybe the article had looked at more closely,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.

“Because I do think it's more of a kicker about this is that if you are somebody who gets a boyfriend and then that is all that is going on in your life.

“Your daily talks and anything you ever want to talk about ever is this man in your life; that’s a bit embarrassing.

“But him just being there and having your own identity still, I don't think that like inherently having a boyfriend at home suddenly means that you can't ever be cool again - or so I hope!”

A married couple hold hands. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 5, 2020. See PA story SOCIAL Relationships. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Ms Hanley said that she can understand not wanting to appear as a woman who makes her boyfriend the centre of her whole world, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the relationship embarrasses her.

“There definitely is a weird side to social media in that way,” she said.

“Say if I'm posting to my Instagram feed, which I don't do a huge amount, so when I do, I feel like I'm putting way too much thought into it.

"I'll often look at my feed and be like, OK, my boyfriend was in the last picture I posted; the main one.

“So, I'll post a different one first this time, so it doesn't look like he's the only thing I care about or have going on.”

'People seek connection'

According to Ms Hanley, she believes “the human condition is such that many people seek connection to somebody else”.

“I think somebody can be very, very happy single, and a part of them can still also want to be with somebody,” she said.

“I think those two things can coexist - certainly when I was single, those things did coexist.

“I felt like a very complete person when I was single and that didn't magically change because I met somebody.

“I think that maybe is the crux of it here, that you should be allowed to want both of those things.”

Main image: Disgusted Woman Rejecting To Kiss Man Walking Outdoors In Park. Image: Prostock-studio / Alamy. 31 August 2019