Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

The Reflection of Connection
I would like to think that I am unique, but maybe you have similar experiences. At my age it is easy to say that I have an extensive dating resume. Think back to all of the guys you dated, had sex with, kissed, touched, dreamt about. What would your dating resume reveal about you?
By JJ6 years ago in Viva
Feminism: Still a Force for Good?
Women have come a long way since the very first Suffragettes fought for our right to vote and the movement has evolved greatly from its original purpose. Yet the core of it remains the same: it is the fight for equality of the sexes. But as feminism has grown and widened its reach across the globe, has its very essence been diluted and, as a result, is it still a force for good?
By Amanda Paul6 years ago in Viva
Bombshell - A Movie Review
Keep fighting in your battles. Nobody deserves to be silenced. Bombshell is a 2019 film depicting the Fox Network News Scandal. A group of women battle against the head Fox News who has created a toxic environment based on sexual allegations.
By Marielle Sabbag6 years ago in Viva
INTIMINA Celebrates Women to Get Real About Womanhood. Period.. Created with: INTIMINA.
Is it just me, or does every year feel shorter than the last? We live fast-paced lives, bustling from one task to the next. Every day seems to bring new problems or new opportunities. Our entire world can change in a heartbeat: a job offer, a diagnosis, an accident, a proposal. We keep moving forward and keep adapting to changes.
By Jules Fortman6 years ago in Viva
I'm Fine With My Body
I've never really been one to call myself skinny. Ever since I was a kid I've always had a little bit of meat on my bones and I was perfectly okay with it. Unfortunately I was the only one. I grew up in a culture where as a child and as a young adult you are supposed to look a certain way and be a certain weight. Now if you were a little on the older side, it was okay to have some weight to you. But as a child I was always nitpicked at how chunky I was. I felt ugly, unloved and an outcast all because I was a chunky kid.
By Alexandra McCormick6 years ago in Viva
On Womanhood and the Sanctity Female Friendship
Were I a grandfather clock, female friendships would be the pendulum keeping time ticking; keepers of (life)time, friendships lodged deep in my core – suspended, swaying, rooted.
By Lily Morrison-Bell6 years ago in Viva
#metoo
I didn’t have a story to tell until I heard her story. The #metoo movement had just begun to take shape and no matter how many times I saw or heard it I couldn’t sympathize. Growing up my parents were extra careful with me about everything. They had me late in life and after several miscarriages, so they were very strict. I hate it how strice they were until now because I didn’t have a story; so her story became a story.
By Skittlez Sneed6 years ago in Viva
The Forgotten Assault
I still remember my first day as a first-year law student. My head was held up high, eyes still sparkling with pride, and the infamous almamater jacket hung on my shoulders, perfect against my frame. The dream I had since I was ten years old was finally coming true as I took my first step into the building of the best law school in the country. Hailed as an intellectual hub where the brightest of minds with the bravest of hearts bonded together, studied together, all under one roof. Our professors are prolific, some with names already etched in the history books of our nation. The sense of pride was nearly overwhelming as I had one goal in my mind, to make a difference and always strive for justice. I was among those who fought for the same values as I did, in the neverending battle against injustice, discrimination, and inequality. They surely couldn't be that bad, right?
By Avalon Morgenstern6 years ago in Viva
Gatherer Gone Mad
As I looked around, the overwhelm hit me. I had that airless, choking feeling – it started in my heart, but soon had me reaching for my asthma inhaler.
By Elissa Savage6 years ago in Viva
A True Legend
As I was writing in my journal about people who inspire me from my list I came across a particular name, a name that was special, a name that was legendary, a name that I would in fact, NEVER FORGET! Her name was in fact Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama, well who is that and why does she inspire me? Well for starters Mrs. Obama was the first ever African American First Lady of the United States of America. I’ve never seen a First Lady that was in fact my complexion, MY COLOR, she was the same race as me. It was still in fact ironic and difficult to believe that the 44th First Lady was in fact black. I’ll never forget the day when I was writing in my journal was that was the day my whole life changed for the better. The date was January 1st 2013, The 44th president of the United States I was in fact 16 years ago cause my birthday is in April. I was a sophomore at the time and I didn’t really care for politics, I didn’t know much about the election, only that there was a black candidate from Hawaii running against a Mormom from Utah named Mitt Romney. I didn’t know much about Obama but I knew about his wife Michelle, she was a Trail Blazer indeed. Born in the south side of Chicago, attended Harvard University in the 70’s and became a lawyer later on. In contrast, as a teenage black girl going to a predominantly white school I didn’t feel comfortable at first I was one of the 10 black females in my school. I was told once by a student who was white that I didn’t belong here, they only allow black people in a school like this so the school won’t be known as racist, I told him he was wrong and then I walked away crying. I didn’t believe in what he was saying he was wrong. That day had been rough for me. I told my mom what happened and she said that she hated that people like the boy was in my school and biggots like him aren’t going to get far in life. She told me a quote from what Michelle Obama said at her husband’s inauguration, she said “ We all struggle with that, people of color, working class folks, women of color -- people try to define us in a negative way before we get a chance to get out there and tell our own stories." She was exactly right. I knew I belonged in that school, I worked hard to even get in and I was happy that I passed that test. I believe in Michele Obama she inspired me to be the best that I can be and never get up on what I believe me. She inspired to go to college and become the strong woman I am today. I wouldn’t even be in college if it wasn’t for her. She showed me and all women are across the world that we are strong and we are capable of doing anything a white person could and I knew that was true. I remember a couple of years later in 2014 Michelle As I was wrintng in my journal about people who inspire me from my list I came across a particular name, a name that was special, a name that was legendary, a name that I would in fact, NEVER FORGET! Her name was in fact Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama, well who is that and why does she inspire me? Well for starters Mrs. Obama was the first ever African American First Lady of the United States of America. I’ve never seen a First Lady that was in fact my complexion, MY COLOR, she was the same race as me. It was still in fact ironic and difficult to believe that the 44th First Lady was in fact black. I’ll never forget the day when I was writing in my journal was that was the day my whole life changed for the better. The date was January 1st 2013, The 44th president of the United States I was in fact 16 years ago cause my birthday is in April. I was a sophomore at the time and I didn’t really care for politics, I didn’t know much about the election, only that there was a black candidate from Hawaii running against a Mormom from Utah named Mitt Romney. I didn’t know much about Obama but I knew about his wife Michelle, she was a Trail Blazer indeed. Born in the south side of Chicago, attended Harvard University in the 70’s and became a lawyer later on. In contrast, as a teenage black girl going to a predominantly white school I didn’t feel comfortable at first I was one of the 10 black females in my school. I was told once by a student who was white that I didn’t belong here, they only allow black people in a school like this so the school won’t be known as racist, I told him he was wrong and then I walked away crying. I didn’t believe in what he was saying he was wrong. That day had been rough for me. I told my mom what happened and she said that she hated that people like the boy was in my school and biggots like him aren’t going to get far in life. She told me a quote from what Michelle Obama said at her husband’s inauguration, she said “ We all struggle with that, people of color, working class folks, women of color -- people try to define us in a negative way before we get a chance to get out there and tell our own stories." She was exactly right. I knew I belonged in that school, I worked hard to even get in and I was happy that I passed that test. I believe in Michele Obama she inspired me to be the best that I can be and never get up on what I believe me. She inspired to go to college and become the strong woman I am today. I wouldn’t even be in college if it wasn’t for her. She showed me and all women are across the world that we are strong and we are capable of doing anything a white man can and she was right. I remember a couple of years later in 2014, Mrs. Obama launched the Reach Higher Initiative, an effort to inspire young people across America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. Reach Higher aims to ensure that all students understand what they need to complete their education by working to expose students to college and career opportunities; helping them understand financial aid eligibility; encouraging academic planning and summer learning opportunities; and supporting high school counselors who do essential work to help students get into college.
By Bri Lee6 years ago in Viva
Jensine Larsen - A Woman Who Inspires: Connecting Women Worldwide for Change
It has been a long time that I have been active in the Women’s Movement. More than 50 years. Along the way I have met, been in meetings with, been in the streets with, read about, heard about, and also imagined the lives of those who were there but without their own stories being known. Many strong, brave and visionary women. But with this call for a story of a woman who has inspired me, one woman stands out, a shining amazon, a woman who has dreamed up the seemingly impossible, trusting her own sense of purpose, trusting that she could make a difference by following her own heart and her own vision of what is possible and what needs to happen. I want to write about Jensine Larsen and how she inspired me. I have read her story, watched her tell it onstage, and was able to learn more when I had the chance to meet her in person. She has shown me what one woman can do to create real change in this world.
By Tamarack Verrall6 years ago in Viva
Together as Women
In October of 2019 I travelled by myself across the globe to Thailand. I had three connecting flights. My mom and little brother sent me off to Vancouver from Toronto, I spent half of that flight crying. My second flight was from Vancouver to Hong Kong, I spent 16 hours trying to sleep. From Hong Kong I landed in Bangkok and began my journey as a foreign teacher.
By diyosa6 years ago in Viva