Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

What Does Feminism Mean to Me?
Feminism is seen as such a dirty word nowadays. It is almost a slur to those who are worried that women having rights will take the limelight away from them for more than five minutes.
By Harley Lily6 years ago in Viva
People Need to Start Taking Johnny Depp's Allegations Against Amber Heard Seriously
Let’s rewind to May 2016 and the first time we opened social media and read Amber Heard’s allegations against then husband, Johnny Depp. The actress claimed that Johnny had been physically abusive toward her throughout their marriage and sported what everyone assumed to be a bruise on her right cheek, when she arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse to obtain a temporary restraining order. Are you all there? Are you remembering the anger you had towards Johnny and how badly you wanted him out of every future movie he was a part of? Good. I want you to remember that anger because it’s going to come in handy later.
By Elisabeth 6 years ago in Viva
Is Womansplaining a Thing?
Most people have heard of "mansplaining" but what about "womansplaining"? Is that a thing? Splaining of any kind if when one person needlessly explains, often in great detail, about a subject to someone who doesn't need the explanation. It is making the assumption of ignorance of the person being explained to.
By Teela Hudak6 years ago in Viva
My Sexual Assault Story
As a little girl, I was never allowed to wear “booty shorts,” glittery tops, v-necks, spaghetti strap tanks, you get the image. All of these things were deemed “trashy” or “too mature” for me at such a young and ripe age. My entire life I had been taught to fear my body, and fear bringing attention toward it. I didn’t want any male to be attracted to me for anything other than my personality, any other attraction was written off as "negative attention." Being the youngest and the only girl child in my family, I naturally began to rebel against these core values I was raised with.
By Brooke Kelly6 years ago in Viva
The Future Is Equal
A few weeks ago I was sitting with a couple of friends and discussing our culture's expectation of women needing to be married by 23, and we ended up going into a discussion of how guys our age are just not worth considering for marriage. Now I could go on a rampage on everything that is wrong with men (which I probably will sneak in throughout this blog to to all the male readers—get out your notebook and pen, and pay attention please), but the more important factor here is the lack of equality and the gender bias that appears here.
By Bazal Morani6 years ago in Viva
Let That Sh*t Go: A Tribute to Toni Morrison. Top Story - August 2019.
Today, Toni Morrison transitioned from living legend to ancestor. As a writer, a book nerd, a creative, and as a Black Woman, I am in mourning. The world is in mourning, and a simple social media scroll is proof of that. This woman, with her wits and words, captivated generations of us and made us laugh, cry, but most importantly, made us think.
By Whitney Alese6 years ago in Viva
Domestic Violence and Pregnancy
For most couples, pregnancy is a wonderful time when they become closer to the prospect of becoming parents and embarking on this amazing journey.
By Clare Scanlan6 years ago in Viva
Are Birth Control Pills a Good Fit for You?
Birth control pills are a form of contraception that involve the use of hormones. The pills can vary in their make up but the majority of brands are a combination pill of different hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. They come in a pack and one is taken every day until the pack is empty.
By Teela Hudak6 years ago in Viva
Turning the Tables
I could taste the sunscreen I had dedicatedly smeared on my face that morning as the sweat streamed down from my forehead.
By Samantha Hilyer6 years ago in Viva
The Difference
The word “No” doesn’t mean “convince me!" I just wish I lived by that saying. Today, I want to call 911 and tell them how my boyfriend has been using me as a slave instead of a girlfriend for three years. He beats me. He calls me ugly every time I put on makeup to hide the scars and bruises he leaves me with. He calls me a hoe even though I’m the one catching him, exterminating the term “fidelity” from his vocabulary. After he beats me, he always says, “I’m sorry, you know I love you,” but those words have lost meaning for the both of us. If he loves me, then what was the point of using me as a punching bag? Is a black eye supposed to resemble his love for my eyes? Is my broken nose supposed to say he thinks I’m beautiful? Is my beaten up face supposed to let people believe that he’s abusing me out of love? Abusing me didn’t make me love him more, it made me stop. He made me afraid of him and ashamed of myself.
By Young Poetic Queen6 years ago in Viva
What Is Rape Culture
Rape culture is a toxic set of beliefs that are commonly held about the way the world is. It is a culture that normalizes sexual violence and just sees rape as inevitable, unavoidable, and a totally normal thing. Rape culture supports and encourages male sexual aggression as well as violence against women and other groups. It ignores the problems around sexual assault. Victims are blamed for the act and encouraged to take precautions to avoid being raped. This is a more dominant attitude than teaching people not to rape others.
By Teela Hudak6 years ago in Viva
Financial Abuse After Separation
You’ve finally managed to get the courage and support to leave your abusive partner. You think you can breathe again and start rebuilding your life. Think again. Immediately post separation is a very dangerous time for abused women. Your ex is now furious; you have escaped his control and left without his permission. He is desperate to get his control back. You belong to him and you have dared to think otherwise!
By Clare Scanlan6 years ago in Viva