Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

Laws Every Woman Should Be Aware Of. Top Story - October 2018.
Women have a different experience when facing the world and its many different threats. Sexual harassment, rape, arrest, and domestic violence are all issues that keep women’s senses heightened, simply because they are women. They cannot defend themselves in the same way men can, which is why there are laws every woman should be aware of.
By Morgan E. Westling7 years ago in Viva
Is It My Body?
I am an introvert, keeping to myself and avoiding confrontation. Yet, no matter how hard I try to blend in with the crowd or fade into the background, others always have something to say about my appearance or personality. Men and women both objectify me. Perfect strangers are just as guilty as long time friends and close family members. The comments range from painfully obvious observations ("Hahaha, you're so short, LOL") to erroneous assumptions (Wow congratulations, how many months 'til you're due?). I'm judged for every aspect of my being, from my petite stature to my voluptuous curves, from my ethnicity to my bisexual identity, from my physical appearance to the way I spell my name. I try not to dwell on other people's opinions, especially when they don't even know the real me. However, the human brain has evolved over centuries to be social, to care about our reputations, to crave acceptance and unity.
By Cheryl Lynn7 years ago in Viva
Occasionally Confused by My Gender
I once asked my aunt one day if I was really born a female because there are times I just don’t feel like one. My body size and shape has made me feel this way before because I don’t have the shapely bodies most women have. I don’t have hips that stand out and I have a large bone structure.
By Brandi Payne7 years ago in Viva
Why Ariana Grande is Changing the Status Quo of Women and Mental Health
Ariana Grande recently released her new album, Sweetener, and just announced her US Tour dates for the Sweetener World Tour. Her career is skyrocketing right now and she deserves to be recognized beyond the mere fact that her and Pete Davidson have split. She’s silently advocating for a positive mental state of mind and honing in on her womanhood, all while being independent working on getting better.
By Mackenzie Coberley7 years ago in Viva
"The Handmaid's Tale" Analysis: Intro, Pt. I, Chapters 1 & 2
Is it healthy to have an obsession with such a depressing dystopian novel? I guess it’s no more depressing than the political news of today. What is this morbid fascination with disturbing alternate futures that attracts us? Well, in the case of The Handmaid’s Tale, it is definitely the succinct, intricate weaving of narrative and subtle reflections of the real world’s problems. Too many dystopian works these days are written as polemics and agendas, or are cliché and uninspired. But The Handmaid’s Tale is a classic work of literature that builds its plot around one singular character, knowing only what she’s told of the world she lives in, whether it’s word-of-mouth, propaganda, or both. Because if you did live a life like Offred’s, in which the act of reading anything is a crime, you would only have your wits and memories at hand.
By CT Idlehouse7 years ago in Viva
A New View
#MeToo, we hear it almost daily, it's like a chant coming out of every dark corner, and we wish it never had to exist. It has been almost a year since the first #MeToo was tweeted, and in so many ways it has been successful, but in other ways it has inadvertently lead to a divide between the sexes. Women are feeling empowered enough to speak out, which is good, but in turn, men are left feeling unsure of what they can or can't do. This then angers us further. "How dare they make it about them!" We scream. "We are trying to speak about our pain and the silence that we have been met with after years of speaking out about our injustices, and now when we finally are being heard, they react like this!" It is infuriating, I understand. But what if we put our anger and shock at their reaction aside for a minute. What if we look at them as emotional human beings just like we are and ask, "Why?" Not from the same place of anger from which we are currently fueled but instead from one of genuine curiosity. This is actually something I have been doing. Talking to men and understanding not their opinion, but the emotional place their opinion is coming from, and I realize that there may be a better way to recruit our brothers help into the cause.
By Anna Foss7 years ago in Viva
Compliment Vs. Sexual Harassment
This is my personal story of what I have gone through as a women in today's world, and my opinion on the issue. We are all aware of the #metoo movement, where women and men are coming out about being sexually harassed. As a women, I have been sexually harassed multiple times. As a young women, I thought it was just a man complimenting me. As I have gotten older, I have realized those men were praying on me and sexually harassing me.
By Kayla7 years ago in Viva
The Red Flags I Should Have Seen
I was 16 when I tried my hand at online dating, at the time I didn't think about the dangers and didn't get how easy it is to get pulled into the black magic of the online world and the online people. Everyone is so different online; it's like there is some kind of virtual confidence or cockiness that people get every time the screen gets turned on. I just wish I could have seen the truth behind the screen when I met my first boyfriend online because I thought he was amazing but I quickly figured out how wrong I was. Now I know what you are thinking, most people have their first boyfriend in like first grade or something, but I was a weird kid who couldn't make friends. But anyway, I got my first boyfriend at 16 almost 17 and in my OMG this my first boyfriend, we are gonna be together forever stupid teenage mind I thought he was perfect I never saw the red flags that were screaming right into my face jumping up and down begging to be seen but I was blind and stupid. There were so many red flags that I just couldn't see but there was 4 big bright fire truck red flags that should of got my attention.
By cheyenne 7 years ago in Viva
The Story of My Life
The following story may get emotional and dark. Viewer discretion is advised. All of the events in this writing are things that really happened to me.
By nicole groover7 years ago in Viva
10 Companies That Donate to RAINN
RAINN stands for the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. RAINN is a national nonprofit organization, which fights against sexual violence and the national sexual assault problem that is growing in this country. This organization is devoted to supporting survivors of sexual violence, and they provide counseling, as well as a hotline to do so. There are many corporate companies that donate to RAINN, and donating to RAINN can help many people get through hard times. Here are some of the companies who contribute.
By Morgan E. Westling7 years ago in Viva
Violated
Consent→ When someone agrees, gives permission, or says "yes" to sexual activity with another person. Consent is ALWAYS freely given, never forced. Every person involved in a sexual situation must feel that they are able to say "yes," "no" or be able to stop the sexual activity at any point in time.
By Sam Villemaire7 years ago in Viva
Studies That Show Women Make Awesome Bosses
There has been a long debate over whether women can successfully lead in the workplace. We all know that the business world has historically been male dominated for quite some time; however, the female boss is a growing concept, and female managers are becoming more widely accepted. In fact, many seem to prefer female managers to their male counterparts. There are many qualities that factor in to the makings of a good boss, and there are many reasons which suggest that women are better in leadership roles. Here’s the research which suggests that women make awesome bosses in the workplace.
By Morgan E. Westling7 years ago in Viva