Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

Life as a Trans Woman
Everyone fits in somewhere, and it happens that I fit in with people who identify in similar ways to me (as transgender or non-binary for instance). It isn't easy being out as transgender, it can get tough at times with us having fewer rights than many would think in modern day Britain and with the casual and everyday transphobia that is so often experienced by many. To make this post somewhat easier to understand, I'm going to split it up into two parts. The first part will be focusing on the rights that we have currently under UK law and the rights that are yet to be won. Then the second part will focus on everyday transphobia that is experienced by my community.
By Hannah Rose Pridgeon7 years ago in Viva
Be-au-ti-ful
What is beauty, what does it really mean to be beautiful? The media has been bombarding us with its own definition of what beauty is for a long time. Social media has been both an advantage and disadvantage when it comes to challenging the definition of beauty.
By N.M.E7 years ago in Viva
Why It Isn't a Scary Time for Men
You see your friend post about how a man followed her all the way home and asked for her number. You look into the comment section and it's usually 50/50. One side is other women telling their stories of men following them being followed home, being too scared to say no to a guy at the bar because she's scared he might become violent, being touched without consent, trying to move away and men tightening their grip. The other 50% is men telling you, "Well it's not all men."
By Kayla Manning7 years ago in Viva
'We're Going to Need More Wine' - Gabrielle Union
Before I begin the book review, I would like to say a couple of things: I listened to the audiobook on Audible narrated by Gabrielle Union. I still plan on buying the hard cover copy. I hope more than anything, I properly write this review giving it all the justice and glory it deserves.
By Ayanna Colon7 years ago in Viva
The Five Things Every Femme Should Own
When I originally developed this list in my early 20s, I had relegated it just to "women," but as the science points to gender and sex as a spectrum, I've figured "femme" would be the most inclusive. These are my personal opinions, and therefore, more like guidelines than actual rules.
By Paige Graffunder7 years ago in Viva
Stop Hating Your Body with These Simple Steps
Be a Smarter Consumer Loving the way you look is hard enough without being force fed words, images and songs that perpetuate an unobtainable beauty standard. It's time to cut out the things that are feeding your unworthiness.
By Paige Sanz7 years ago in Viva
Leave Fat People Alone
Why does being a fat person matter to so many people? How does it affect you when all we do is just exist in the same spaces?
By Kayla Manning7 years ago in Viva
Sunscreen Enables the Patriarchy
My brothers were rarely asked to wash the dishes, or cook dinner, or tend to the garden. I thought about this as I pulled up weeds in the flower bed next to Momma, my pink gloves covered in dirt. Whining, I asked her what the point was. Her answer was redundant; I’d heard variations of it my whole life. Hun, sometimes you have to do things you don’t wanna do. Or, It’s not about the flowers, it’s about the work. It wasn’t the work I minded, though. It was the bias of it. The fact that my brothers were down at my dad’s shop, washing cars. I eyed the unhealthy flowers that sagged despondently, as if reflecting my attitude about taming the wild plants around them.
By Sam Puett7 years ago in Viva
I Didn’t Report It
July 10th. Normal day. Normal plans. Plans to sit and chill out on my couch. Plans to have fun with my best friend in the next couple days. It was a normal good night. It was fun. It was relaxing. About midnight that night a good friend had stopped by. He was just wanting to hang out watch a movie or something. At least that’s what I thought he had wanted to do. We had been fuck buddy’s for a while, four years at that point. Casual and fun at times but he knew I’d like to step it up and possibly get into a relationship. That was mistake number two of that night, thinking he only wanted to hang out. The first one was letting him into my apartment. By one we were watching a movie on Netflix. By two he was sitting next to me. And by three he had me in my room. I remember it all so vividly but it’s so blurry. He was stripping me, pulling my clothes off roughly while I tried to fight him off. The tears were gushing from my eyes and I was trying so hard to get him away from me.
By Boogiedat .7 years ago in Viva
I Think I'm a Feminist...
So, I think I might be a feminist, but I'm not really sure. Let me be clear, I believe we should all have equal rights no matter your sex, race, religion...if you're one of those 'new nazis' maybe you shouldn't have rights. Maybe you should go back to kindergarten and learn some manners. This article though, is about feminism. I am a feminist, I think. However, now if you tell someone you're a feminist, you get a lot of bad reactions. Or maybe that's just me because most of my family and over half of my friends are republicans. I'm also a republican so when I say I'm a feminist a lot of people are like, "Umm, okay so you're democratic now? Wow. Okay." And get all offended like I suddenly became a communist and asked to kill their first born child.
By Michelle Schultz7 years ago in Viva
How I Wear a Corset and Continue to Call Myself a Feminist
Alright! Listen up, my fellow humans! I am here to tell you that corsets can be feminist too! I know, I know. Shocking! But it's true.
By Hannah Payne7 years ago in Viva
Without Regret
With an unladylike howl, she slammed the clam-shell grill closed a bit harder than she should have. Here's another burn to add to her collection of scars. Furiously, she swiped the dirty blue rag across the slightly cooled grill which still boasted temperatures near three hundred degrees. With her wrist, she dabbed the corner of her eye, thankful that her last cashier had slipped out into the night. Sinking into the office chair, she collected paperwork along with her thoughts, tucking some here and others there.
By Sis Monica7 years ago in Viva