A Sweetheart for every Situationship
By Catherine Bourke
As a generation, the term “situationship” has become more than familiar in our lives and has come to dominate pop culture, becoming one of Oxford Dictionary’s finalists for “Most Used Words” of 2023. As society rapidly evolves along with the rise of social media and technology, the way we think about romance, commitment, and relationships has shifted dramatically over recent years. Modern day connections come in diverse forms, whether you are taking it slow, avoiding labels, stuck in the “talking stage”, or in a serious relationship. Valentine's Day is approaching, and the highly beloved candy brand ‘Sweethearts’ has inevitably caught onto the various forms of connection seen in our generation and now has a sweet confection dedicated to whatever your status is due to its exclusive edition of “Situationship Candies”.
The expression “situationship” has spread like wildfire within the past few years and become a Gen-Z staple, as it perfectly captures the essence of these unestablished, rather confusing connections many of us know well. The term is used to describe a bond that is more than a friendship but less than a relationship, and they can be chaotic, unserious, and sometimes even painful, but also exciting and fun depending on the circumstances and where you stand in the situation. Blurred lines and pondering the pressing question of what you and your person really are to each other have become common experiences faced by adolescents everywhere.
Despite the stress and confusion your current situationship may be causing you, Sweethearts has found humor in the phenomenon and taken it as an opportunity to create a new edition of candies. Their lighthearted response to the presence of situationships brings comedic relief to the complexities and ups and downs of contemporary connections. The original Sweetheart’s Valentine’s Day candies have been gaining more and more popularity since 1902, loved for their cute mini heart shape and charismatic messages. Original phrases labeled on the candies range from “You’re mine” and “True love”, to “Hello Sunshine”, aiming to spread love and optimism during the Valentine’s season. However as love has proven itself to not be so simple, the brand has designed its new edition to be imprinted with “messages as blurry as your last relationship”. The new candies keep the sweet traditional messages, but they are dimmed and harder to read, representing the imperfections in situationships. The candies were released January 8th and are already flying off the shelves, so if there is a special someone you plan on gifting these to, you’d better hurry to your nearest pharmacy.
While they can have their benefits, situationships can also include distressing factors that can be detrimental to one’s mental health, causing anxiety and even depression. The reasons why they have become so popular and common are up for debate, but it is clear that our generation has grown to avoid real commitment more so than any other generation has. Some people find convenience in being able to experience the thrills of a real relationship while not having to feel “tied down” to a person, and others become accustomed to the anticipation, sporadic energy, and unpredictability of situationships, as opposed to the consistency and mundaneness of traditional relationships. Whatever the reason for your situationship may be, or whether you are content or in agony, the situationship candies could be a humorous way to start a conversation about where you and your person really stand with one another. Situationships can be toxic, and relationship counselors suggest open communication as the key to a healthy relationship, and these situationship candies could start a more serious talk in a lighthearted way.
The new Sweethearts candies, on top of ‘situationship’ being one of the most used words of the year, have further emphasized the prevalence of situationships in today’s society. The fact that these complicated connections have gone so far to the point where Valentine’s candy brands feel they need their own special dedication shows they could be getting out of control and are beginning to dominate real romantic partnerships. Situationships can have a multitude of unenjoyable factors, from having to guess how your “partner” feels about you, building up hope only to be let down, having unequal expectations, and being left with trust and abandonment issues. Wanting commitment from somebody who fails to give it to you can be extremely harmful to one’s self-image and perception of love. At the end of it all, romance is supposed to be fun, and if you are begging someone to treat you right then you are with the wrong person. Situationships are all around us and you may even be in one, but if you are someone who prefers commitment then there should be no pressure to get involved in them. When partaking in any form of romance, whether it is a situationship, a traditional relationship, or just a hookup or fling, it is most important to remember your worth and not settle for less than what you want or deserve. Above all, Sweethearts situationship candies are a reminder to reflect on the ambiguity of your situationship, with humor and a tasty confection to go with it.
