Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Myth: All Fat People Are Unhealthy
Kenzie L Stapleton Age: 22 Height: 5’5 Weight as of 8/30/2018: 285Ibs Body Image: Hates her body. Doctor says: “Go on the Paleo diet and I also want to run a million and one tests on you to see what kind of problems you now have from being overweight."
By Kenzie Lane Stapleton7 years ago in Viva
Why Women Need to Stop Tearing Down Other Women. Top Story - August 2018.
We are in a scary and exciting time right now for women. With all the movements and people coming out to tell their story, it feels as if women are taking steps in the right direction. It is not like we are asking for anything crazy, either. We merely want to be looked at as equal, to be able to wear what we want, and to not have a fear of being molested or sexually harassed everywhere we turn. The only problem I have with all of this is that, while we are asking for others to treat us better, we are still tearing down other women.
By Ashlyn Harper7 years ago in Viva
Sexist or Awareness?
Recently, acclaimed author Lauren Groff refused to answer the work/life balance question in an interview with the Harvard Gazette. Alexandra King, with CNN, responded with an op-ed on why she believes Groff, and all women “in positions of influence,” should have answered the question. My rebuttal is that King missed the mark entirely on the original question asked of Groff and Groff's response, ultimately reinforcing a sexist position the question takes.
By Robyn Russo7 years ago in Viva
Fireflies in the Dark
Did you ever catch fireflies when you were younger? Put them in a jar to watch them glow? Did you remember to poke holes in the lid? Did you put them in your room like a nightlight? Until, one by one they fall to the bottom and go out. Did someone tell you to let them go or they would die? Did you keep them anyway?
By Skyler Whitfield7 years ago in Viva
"Oh It'll Be Okay, You're a Girl, It's Suppose to Be Like This."
I curled up in the middle of the living room floor at 16 years old and clutched my legs to my chest in pain that felt like the Evil Queen Regina grabbed my uterus and squeezed it into dust. Actually, that might have hurt less than what I really felt. I remember my eldest little brother was worried trying to find my mom while my youngest was worried trying to make sure I was okay. I passed out shortly after that and woke up to my mom trying to get me into a wheelchair at the urgent care down the road. We sat in there for two-and-a-half hours before final being taken to a waiting room for another hour. When the nurse and doctor finally arrived and took my blood, even though it took three people and six tries before someone succeeded, they found nothing wrong. The recommended that because my pain was coming from my lower abdominal area that I seek advice from my gynecologist.
By The Grammar Police7 years ago in Viva
Facebook, Trauma, and the 'Men Are Trash' Narrative
About a year ago, one of my favorite people blocked me on Facebook because I say “men are trash” a lot. This man—who is a friend of mine in real life, who gets it right like 90 percent of the time, who genuinely works hard to be a good man—just couldn’t handle seeing my constant critique of toxic masculinity.
By Cylest Nichole7 years ago in Viva
A Call to Action
In December of 2015, Sweden gave every sixteen year old in the country a copy of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's feminist manifesto, We Should All Be Feminists. Why? Because we should all be feminists, especially by the age of sixteen. Gender roles and social expectations of femininity and masculinity are ingrained in young people’s minds as soon as they are born. Not only does society normalize violence and disregard inequalities, but it also continues to encourage the continuation of the patriarchy through young people who just do not know any better. We should all be feminists in order to acquire a critical consciousness of the intersecting injustices of the world so that society can be changed for the better.
By Sarah Treaster7 years ago in Viva
My Periods After Stopping Birth Control
I have been on the pill for five years, the same amount of time as my current relationship. But I have been wanting to get off them for nearly two years now because I was with the same boy since college, moving in with him, and now currently engaged to him.
By Heather Wilkins7 years ago in Viva
Surviving Sexual Trauma Part 1
What is the biggest secret you have ever kept? What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? You may think that it is something terrible, something horrible. Maybe it is, or maybe it is only for that moment and that it will get better for you. That your big secret isn't so big and that the worst thing to ever happen to you really isn't so bad upon looking at the big picture.
By Erika Farrah7 years ago in Viva
