body

Feminism demands a future free of fat shaming, body obsession and the male gaze.

Learning To Love Yourself In A Size 4 Society
I'm sure that most, if not all of us have hated our appearance at one point or another. Well, maybe not hate but disliked our appearance. Growing up we're told we need to be skinny, we need to look pretty, we need to be feminine, we need to do this and that, but what about what we wanted? Some of us wanted to be models and were denied by the industries because we aren't size 4s, or because we don't have flat stomachs, or some other BS.
By Em8 years ago in Viva
The Craft of Contemporary Plus-Size Criticism
“You’re so brave.” “You’re pretty for a bigger woman.” Sadly, I’ve come across these double-edged comments and many more on plus-size women’s pictures way too often since I joined the social media community. They’re described as double-edged because although they appear to be compliments they are in fact hurtful to most. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for what us curvy femmes are used to hearing, or reading on an everyday basis from our followers, friends, and family, and bluntly, it has to stop.
By Nicole Enid8 years ago in Viva
Should Clothing Chains Charge More to Plus Size Consumers?
Already starting this week, there are shoppers out there that are complaining on social media along with their discovery that a well-known British retailer is deliberately charging higher prices for plus-size clothing items. It’s been found that there are two clothing items that are identical except for the fact that they are different sizes. The smaller one reflects one price and the other one that is plus-sized displays a price that is nearly doubled. Is it fair and legal for this company or any other clothing retailer to do this?
By Kathy Lester8 years ago in Viva
When Body Positivity Gets Ugly
I will start this piece in something of a matter-of-fact way. I am plus size. I always have been, and I likely always will be. This is not me resigning myself to some awful lifelong fate; this is me accepting my body for what it is – and loving it anyway. My height and my dress size have opened a lot of doors for me since I got on board the body positivity train when I was eighteen, including working with major plus size fashion retailers and model agencies. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing though, and despite my current dress size being a fairly consistent size 18, one phrase has stuck with me since I won the Simply Be Model Search in 2011.
By Abigail Hill8 years ago in Viva
What to Know About Permanent Birth Control for Women
It is important to know that you have options when it comes to permanent birth control procedures. This process can seem intimidating without knowing all of the details. And this is why it is crucial to know what to expect, how your recovery process will go, and what is best for your body. Your local women's health organization will always be of great help in your process, as well.
By Sherry Campbell8 years ago in Viva
Comfort of Darkness
Darkness. It’s comfortable. I’ve hidden in it since I can remember, like delving into a cool black lake and submerging my head beneath the water, disappearing from reality. It stings my skin and makes me feel alive. Refreshed. To everyone around me, I am still invisible. I am safe, now. No more of that, no sir. I’ll probably have to go to the diner soon, to meet her, but I don’t want to. Little sister doesn’t understand me because she’s had a perfect life. After all these years, she loves to make damn sure I know it. She left me by myself that night, after we promised to always be there for each other. All that talk about sex — she loves it.
By Nadia Zielinska8 years ago in Viva
From the Girl Who Fits Twice In My Jeans
"Mens sana in corpore sano." Look at some of the sayings in day to day life, and see how obsessed our language is with measurement:
By Amy Cookson8 years ago in Viva
The Ultimate Choice
Before I get to my main piece for this article I just wanted to put a precursor on my words. I want to first of all state that I mean no harm in writing these words. I want to put out there that I am in NO WAY trying to trivialize the terror that is rape or try to assume the thoughts or roles of a woman who has to make this -to me- seemingly unbearable decision. I have never been in this situation, I do not know the emotions, the fear, the pain that is experienced in a time such as this. All I know is what I have been told by women who have gone through this experience, women who have been on both sides of the argument, women who have chosen life, and women who have chosen to exercise their right of choice. Every single woman in this world has a right to her own body and no girl should be made to feel bad for knowing this fact and choosing to exercise that right. I am completely in awe of the power and strength of the women of this world and we can only become stronger by lifting each other up and trying to understand and support each other the best we can. I feel that in today's society when it comes to the topic of abortion and a woman's choice, we are all so focused on just that- the choice. The end result. The ultimate decision. Few stop to consider the process that these women go through in their minds as well as in their hearts when actually making the decision. I have heard plenty of these women’s stories and there is one thing never changes: the pain in the choice. That is what this piece is about. The process. I hope it touches someone and maybe sheds some light on what sometimes seems like a very black and white topic in today’s world. Blessings and love,
By Final Thoughts8 years ago in Viva
Women and Plastic Surgery
Many women these days go through the idea of plastic surgery, to change the way they look or to make themselves feel better about the way they look. This is the result of today's society, the magazines, social media, and television. However, not everyone feels the same way about having plastic surgery or someone they know having plastic surgery.
By Tanisha Dagger8 years ago in Viva
"You Should Leave"
I’ve been catcalled since I was 12 or 13 years old. I became a woman before my friends, and men don’t discriminate based on age when they know they’re safe yelling from the windows of their trucks. I could count those instances as the beginning of my story, but I don’t really think I saw men as a danger until my second year of college.
By Christine Harazim8 years ago in Viva
Crossing a Line . Top Story - October 2017.
Recently I was shown an article about a famous singer who was at a benefit concert. He was singing to a large crowd of mostly women. Yes there were men there too, but there was a huge crowd of women that were very close to the stage. As the singer often does when he performs he got very close to the edge of the stage. Many of the people there had their hands raised up in the hope that he might touch them. He also often takes flowers from them and other gifts. On this particular night like he often does he knelt down, and just as he did one woman grabbed his private part. Now this was not a brush of her hand, it was a grab. He quickly grabbed her hand and removed it. Because he was in the middle of his song he had to continue singing.
By Lilli Adams8 years ago in Viva
Confidence 101
Over the last few years, I've been making a name for myself as a Freelance Model/Actress and I have had many women come up to me or slide into my DMs, asking me one thing: "How are you so confident?"
By Aurea Gonzalez8 years ago in Viva