Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Selfies, Fat, Sweat and Tears
[Please excuse the number of selfies in this — I’m trying to demonstrate a point] When I turned 30 something crazy happened — my twenties had been wrought with insecurities surrounding how I looked, my teens even more so but suddenly I didn’t really care anymore. In fact, when I looked back on my twenties and earlier, from my thirties I wondered why I was bothered at all — I wasn’t half as bad as I was led to believe, or more importantly, had come to believe. In fairness, I didn’t regularly start wearing make-up till I was 25 and had no actual skin routine till I was even older than that. When I look back though, I can see how outside influences had an impact on me when I was gullible and naïve and how I gave other peoples’ opinions much more value than they were worth. And now I dress whatever way I want, covered in tattoos and giving way less of I shit about it… or so I thought…
By Caroline Egan5 years ago in Viva
Sister Circle
Sister Circle Dear Harriet Tubman, You don't know me. Still, you are in my sister circle. You are just like one of my pals. I don't have many friends. I haven't met many people who have good friendship qualities; but, even while you don't know me, and I've never met you, you are in my sister circle.
By Shahidah Ahmad5 years ago in Viva
Common Contraceptive FAQ's - what do you want to know?
The pill, which is the most popular form of birth control for women in England, has long been surrounded by questions and between 2019 and 2020, there have been significant increases in search volumes around pill-related queries. So, let's find out what people have been searching for the most frequently, and get to the bottom of some of the most asked questions about the pill.
By Caitlin Purvis5 years ago in Viva
My dear Hypatia
My dear Hypatia, you were the greatest astronomer and mathematician of your time. You were a professor at the University of Alexandria one and a half millennia ago, teaching mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy, writing books on algebra and geometry. I learned about you through study, would you believe? In your age, it was not common for women to lead an academic life like you did but now we are free to pursue this to our heart’s content. I know you had your father, Theon, to thank; he taught you his trade as a professor like people would usually teach their sons. I did not take the trades of my family; I am forever a student, a learner, a teacher – just like you were!
By Eloise Robertson 5 years ago in Viva
Ladylike Ain't Like Nothin' at All
In a time where gender norms are consistently questioned, and expression & fluidity of gender is becoming widely accepted, the term 'ladylike' sounds as outdated as one of those savory jello salads from the '60s. I had to look up the term just to reacquaint myself with the meaning. Some of the definitions included words like, 'gracious', 'quiet' and, 'good manners'. I searched 'ladylike', and looked at images associated with the word. I wasn't shocked but was dismayed to find several images of shoes, long dresses, lipstick, and ladies peering into ovens. Wow, that word really is outdated. So I'm glad Vocal reached out to me and several others to help redefine what it means to be 'ladylike'.
By Daniela Bishop5 years ago in Viva
The Brown copy and paste
One of the crucial parts of sexuality representation is the study of the people it actually includes. Black women being portrayed as hypersexual beings has been part of the White imaginary for a long time, this belief spreading onto many stereotypes such as the Jezebel. While those are old, they persist in our society, including films, through a remolding of those racist and misogynistic ideas. This essay will touch on the ways that, due to the limited representation of Black female sexuality in cinema, the few examples available could hold more weight, including the stereotypical ideas they contain, such as the resemblance to the Jezebel stereotype and how their ‘‘promiscuous’’ sexuality affects the rest of their life.
By Allie Pauld5 years ago in Viva
To the woman I know.
To the woman I know that bears relentless strength and courage. Knowing the true meaning of scared but doing it anyway. Facing the demons that were meant to destroy you and overcoming setbacks that were blessings in disguise. The silent battles you fought that at times left you defeated. But yet here you are, still standing and stronger than ever.
By Stephanie Ann5 years ago in Viva
Dear Yeon-Mi Park
Dear Yeon-mi, Vocal have asked us to write about a letter to the strongest woman we know. There are many contenders for this, our aunts, mothers and sisters, teachers, celebrities and idols. In the end, I chose to write a letter to you. I have travelled to many countries around the world and a day trip in Busan and our tour guide openly discussed North Korea.
By Chloe Gilholy5 years ago in Viva
