Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

But Why
It had begun to feel like the love that she had always wanted. Every other guy before that always treated her like shit! So she was used to nobody really caring about her.
By Jennifer Cooley6 years ago in Viva
Top 20 Questions and Comments that I have heard after telling people I was Asexual.
I loath telling people I am an Asexual or Ace for short because most people do not understand it or ask me really stupid questions or make stupid comments. So in honor of pride month, I have decided to write all the stupid things that people have said to me when I have told them that I am an Ace and my internal responses. My experiences and responses are in no way indicative of all Aces and many of these questions are actually very hurtful and invalidating. So lets begin with my least favorite and the rest are in no particular order.
By Sarah Beattie6 years ago in Viva
Why Did You Wait So Long To Speak Out?
I understand that we are currently facing many challenges; however, I wanted to talk about an issue that has been weighing heavily on my mind. As the 2020 presidential race heats up, I feel the need to start a conversation regarding the sexual assault accusations against presidential nominee Joe Biden. I am not here to, nor will I, offer my opinion as to whether I believe he is guilty of the accusations. Individuals who are in support of Joe Biden, who also happen to be supporters of the #MeToo movement, have raised several legitimate issues against his accuser except for one. It is this issue that I want to address. Supporters of Biden, and under similar circumstances supporters of supreme justice Kavanaugh, appeared to doubt the truth behind the victim’s account due to the fact that they remained silent on the alleged attacks for several years. They claim to find it suspicious that the women are just now coming out with these accusations when the accused is seeking a position of importance and authority. With that being said, women’s right advocates have provided numerous explanations, all backed by scientific research, as to why a woman would remain silent. In some instances, it is because it happened during a time when women were not taken seriously. In others, it is due to fear of repercussions, being accused of making a false accusation, ostracization, humiliation, and so on. Perhaps they did speak up and were silenced by the accuser? These are but a few examples that need to be considered.
By Stephanie Hale6 years ago in Viva
My plus size life
Plus size is beautiful no matter what others think or say. I’ve been overweight since I was a little girl. I never felt like I was beautiful, I felt ugly, disgusting, repulsive, un-sexy, that's how I felt for years. Even when I was in high school, yes I had boyfriends but I never felt beautiful. Even though my boyfriend told me I was I would always say "ok...sure whatever." years later I had my first child...wasn't planning on it but it happened. that's when I started to see a better version of me as a single mother and trying to be a better me isn't easy. I still lived with my parents. they helped me with my child. I never really went out and for that, I started to gain more weight and was losing my confidence again. I've tried all types of weight loss programs but they just made me even hungrier than before. Five years later I'm now 300 lbs. My parents are arguing all the time, not in front of us but we know that they are arguing. then one day my mom announces to all of us that she is going back to her homeland Cuba and she is taking my little brother with her. After she leaves I was left to feed the family and clean the house all by myself. I started to get tired of that lifestyle and soon another woman came into my life I wanted her or not. My father introduced us to his girlfriend and I wasn't ready to have some stranger come into my home and change everything. what made it worse was that they told us that we were going to have another sibling. I wasn't ready for all these changes all at once. years later my stepmom and I got into a big argument when she tried to tell me that I couldn't hang out with my friends that I needed to stay home where I belong. That infuriated me that I yelled at her. I grabbed my stuff and took my child with me and went to my cousin's house which was a block away from my father's house. I told him everything that happened he said that I could stay with them as long as I wanted to. I was living with them a year and eating the way they eat and I started to lose weight without even trying. I now feel sexy, beautiful. I now weigh 250 lbs. so no matter what color of your skin or the size you are male or female or if you're LGBTQ we are all human and we're all beautiful inside and out. Be happy with your self.
By Araceli6 years ago in Viva
So you're a supporter of equality in the workplace?
Yesterday was "Women in Engineering Day" - I celebrate this, as did many corporates, with social media platforms and the news being peppered with corporate messages about gender equality and the importance of women in STEM careers.
By Carole Groombridge 6 years ago in Viva
Perfect
I’m kaylee every since I was little I always felt the need to fit in and be perfect. I would sit in the bathroom for hours piling my face with makeup, picking the right outfit to wear, so I can get into whatever my friends are into. ‘ ‘ ‘Ring ring’ “Girl is you ready” ? “Yeah I’m getting ready now”, “I’m ready to leave out and stuff”,”so what all we about to do girl”?, “okay,we can do that girl just let me know”. When my dad found out I was sleeping around, with a boy. He was so upset because he wanted his daughter to be perfect,Well at least in his eyes. I was grounded and couldn’t come out, until I went off to college. My mom always told me, in order for me to have, a good husband, I had to be smart. So all my acting wild in high school days, trying to fit in been over. I would sit outside, enjoy nature, read my books day after day, that’s where I met this guy name Anthony. My mom would put us on a million dates and give me lesson after lesson, so I wouldn’t mess up a good thing, with my soon to be husband. Sitting outside reading my books, was actually pretty relaxing, but was it perfect enough. I was so competitive and always wanted to stay fit. I would even go out for runs, so I can have that perfect size six body. Something in my heart, made me hate being short. If Only I could be at least 5’9, that would be perfect. So I put on High heels, so it could give me that sense of security. All of my friends are slim, so everything I eat matters to me, So I eat small healthy meals, like cheese sticks, raisins, a orange and water. That would last me for the whole day. If I catch myself eating big meals, I would make myself throw up, in the bathroom and I set a alarm on my phone, to remind me to eat healthy. So what I eat matters to me, because I have to be perfect enough, to fit in with my model type friends. My life completely turned upside down, when I recieved news my father passed away, I didn’t want to leave the house, I lost touch on how to carry myself, I didn’t see my friends in months. All because I was too embarrassed, for them to see me looking bad like this. I lost everything the house, my job because he owned it. My life was a mess. I accidentally ran into my friend, Trisha On a Monday.
By Newbii Meshay Tv6 years ago in Viva
Could it be more than 'just PMS'?
The menstrual cycle is a complex system that can affect everything from energy levels, to motivation, sex drive and mood. We are taught from an early age about PMS and PMT, and to expect some level of mood sensitivity in the week leading up to our period - but what happens when the severity of these symtoms impacts on our ability to function in daily life? Is this something we should consider 'normal'? Are premenstrual symptoms that affect your interpersonal relationships and performance in daily life, something that is just 'part of being a woman'?
By Vicious Cycle6 years ago in Viva
Just A Woman
THE CASTOR OIL MIRACLE At certain times in my life during elementary school, I didn’t want to go to school, especially from fourth through sixth grades. I was talked about and picked on constantly and didn’t want to go, so I tried a few times to fake sick. I got away with staying home a couple of times, but Mamma later caught on. She devised a plan that would get me to do just about anything I didn’t want to do….by giving me castor oil.
By Deanna Lang6 years ago in Viva
June 22 is Judy Garland Day
Judy was born in the month of June and also died on June 22. Judy Garland will forever be remembered as Dorothy from the iconic film The Wizard of Oz. She was so much more than just that film! Born on June 10 in 1922 Frances Ethel Gumm lost her life to an accidental overdose while in London on June 22 in 1969. She had just turned 47. It seems hard to believe it has been more than 50 years since her passing.
By Paula C. Henderson6 years ago in Viva
3 Things Every Woman Should Know About Cervical Cancer Screening
Women's health can be complex, and every woman has unique considerations and needs. Well-women exams are an important time to bring up these needs and take proactive steps to protect your health, including important testing for things like cervical cancer.
By David Wyld6 years ago in Viva
Narcofeminism, a movement to join right now
When Olą Belyaeva was in her twenties, a doctor told her parents that he wanted to cut open her head and freeze part of the brain — the area responsible for satisfaction. Because the doctor blamed a defect of this area for Belyaeva repeatedly doing something that is severely condemned in her home Ukraine: Taking drugs.
By AddictiveWritings6 years ago in Viva
Beauty of being Latina
Hi!. My name is Lisaidy and I'm a proud Latina. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic. My family and I moved to the United States three and a half years ago in the search for a better future.
By Lisaidy Zabala6 years ago in Viva