Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
How Do Birth Control Pills Work?
If you're new to learning everything about birth control pills, hello and welcome. You're probably on the journey to have an infinite amount of sex without the risk of getting pregnant from your rowdy nights. You're just like every other girl who's in the same position as you — wanting sex but minus the baby.
By Rachel Blanchard8 years ago in Viva
Body Pos 101
In recent times we see body pos everywhere! This is a huge leap for our society. If you want to believe it or not, our world is coming around slowly to the idea that not every woman needs to look like the “typical model.” Sure, there are still trolls out there that will never agree that a woman over 140lbs can be beautiful, healthy, and a free to wear whatever they want. But I’m not here to pay attention to negative trolls; I’m here to shed light on the constant battle women young and old (men too) deal with daily and how we, as women, can turn our insecurities into the armor we wear every day to face the world. Obviously I am going to speak from a young woman’s perspective, but I encourage you, even if you’re not a “young woman,” read on, and maybe you can get a new take on body positivity through my eyes!
By Thrifty, Curvy, & Thriving8 years ago in Viva
Cycling as a Feminist Act
Feminism has helped me learn a lot about myself and the world. Perhaps one of the most surprising things it has taught me is how to ride a bike. By this, I don’t mean how to balance, pedal, and look where I wanted to go. My brilliant dad had taught me that long before either of us would have used the word "feminism" to describe our actions. No, I mean how to actually use a bike in daily, adult life without unnecessary injury and panic attacks. And it turns out, doing so helps me grow as a feminist.
By Sophie Small8 years ago in Viva
A Mile in Her Feet
It started out as a joke, really. I was attending one of my best female friend's bachelorette party and as a part of the low-key celebrations, the plan was to go to the salon to get our nails did. I didn't really feel like disappearing midway through the day so I agreed to go with. After all, I had heard about men getting manicures and pedicures and absolutely loving it.
By C.E. Zulin8 years ago in Viva
The Events Following My Rape
The numbness was snatched away when the doctor inserted this plastic instrument inside of me. I tried not to yell, attempted not to complain at the first sign of pain but all of a sudden I felt like a monster was inside of me and it just kept getting deeper and deeper inside of me. All of a sudden all I felt was pain all I saw was red. All of a sudden I felt like he was inside of me again. I felt like I was being raped all over again. All around me, a bunch of strangers keep telling me to hush that it’ll be okay. But thats a lie, I know it will not be ok. In this exact moment I wanted my birth giver, the only person who could help soothe my soul but somewhere after the red wore off I remembered she’s dead. I called my aunt hoping she can provide some kind of solace for my already crippled psyche, along with my body. None is provided, kinda hard to reach out when my hands seem to be permanently glued to my sides. I don’t know how I cope. I just do, I push everything down until I am alone. Until it all comes vomiting back up, I wanna scream. I wish I didn’t tell the people I care about the most because I feel like they don’t look at me the same anymore b/c they don’t. I don’t want to silently suffer but I know no other way. Every time before this, my feelings were disregarded not by the people who care about me the most but by the people who were supposed to care about me the most but didn’t. Or couldn’t or whatever excuse we’re making for them today. I cried in the shower today because I tried to talk to God, and he didn’t talk back. Or maybe I couldn’t hear him over all the sobbing, I turned the lights off for my shower today b/c it seemed easier. Today I saw red and swallowed shattered brokenness. Today I took 8 different pills to prevent pain, pregnancy, and infection. Today loving the world was as hard as loving myself. And I don’t feel strong enough for either.
By Ann Jackson8 years ago in Viva
Learning to Love Your Body
Between media messages and social pressures, it can often be hard to love your body. Sometimes self-love and confidence can even be shamed as vanity and narcissism. But none of that should stop you from rocking who you are and loving every second of it! You are an attractive and lovable being. These five tips will get you on the path to loving your body and learning to respect yourself as you are.
By Alina Gallupe8 years ago in Viva
The Panopticon of the Patriarchy
The patriarchal society lived in today is commonplace. Women find themselves constantly shorted in conditions ranging from violent rapists found innocent to girls told to cover their shoulders in school so as not to distract the boys in the room. These circumstances are a direct result of a panoptic mechanism abducting the idea of masculine power as dominant over femininity and fixing it into society so subtly that people rarely notice or have the ability to protest it. Foucault presents the central idea of Panopticism in Discipline and Punish: power is “visible and unverifiable,” (555). The sexist society in the United States exhibits these symptoms. For example, as Berger shows the reader in Ways of Seeing, men are visibly seen as favorable in art. However, it is essentially unverifiable because there is no sure way of knowing the inspiration, the intent, or the impetus behind the artist’s painting — consciously or subconsciously. Foucault’s presentation of the Panopticon directly represents and results in the relationship between male and female in today’s society as shown in Berger’s work, Ways of Seeing. As Berger puts it, “Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at” (47).
By Amelia Clare Wright8 years ago in Viva
8 Things to Consider Before Committing to a Vivid Hair Color!
This is a list of 8 things to consider before committing to a vivid hair color. 1. It is a process! If you are wanting to switch it up and go vivid, then you NEED to understand that it is a process! In order to put a vivid color on your hair, your hair needs to be light, and if your hair is dark, this may take more than one processing venture; you have to be patient with the process and trust your Stylist to know what is best for your hair along the way!
By Beki Keraly8 years ago in Viva
Skincare Routine
I have always been a skincare junkie, mostly because I have had terrible skin growing up. I have tried everything under the sun to get rid of my pesky acne. From over-the-counter meds, online dermatology services, various creams and what not. After years of refusal, I finally did my research and went to see a real dermatologist. Turns out, I have hormonal acne, which is why my skin would be clear one minute and then freak out the next; usually when it’s around that time of the month.
By Aleksie Alvarado8 years ago in Viva
Types of Birth Control
Birth control is now more readily available than ever before, and the truth is that there are new options coming up every single year. If you want to make sure that you've gotten the right birth control for yourself, you really can't rely on others to help educate you about your options.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Viva
