Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Dear Abuser
Dear Abuser: Thank you for finally re-opening your Facebook page. You know the one you claimed you deleted... anyways, thank you for finally opening up your Facebook page. Had I not looked deep into my Facebooks page source settings as to who is most likely taking a looksie at my posts, I would have never realized your page was re-opened.
By Elisabeth Dodson8 years ago in Viva
Dear Working Moms, It’s Time to Stop Feeling Guilty
Whether you’re a stay at home mom or a working mom, you can admit the lifestyle has its vices. By the title, I imagine you know which one I’ll be speaking about. Let’s stop there though - this will not be an argument on which role is harder, which role is better, or anything of that sort. Being a mom is hard and being a mom is awesome. Period.
By Rayelle Paulson8 years ago in Viva
The Degradation of the Feminist Movement
The feminist movement used to be a force for good. It was a way for women to fight oppression and have their voice heard. Recently, within the past decade or two, the movement has changed into something unrecognizable. Why the change? What happened?
By Caroline Brown8 years ago in Viva
The Breadwinner: Modern Day Social Constructs
Over the past century, a woman’s role in American society has changed dramatically. Most people don’t even bat an eye anymore if a woman wants to go to school, have a career, and maybe, just maybe, not even have children. If she’s got a husband, though… well, that could change things.
By Rayelle Paulson8 years ago in Viva
On Womanhood. Top Story - June 2018.
“You are not a woman! And you never will be!”The words hit me like a slap in the face. And their volume. The crowd at the Mexican restaurant valiantly attempted to ignore my mother, who was making a scene. “I know who you are, and I know what you are and that’s all you’ll ever be!” My demure shock turned into anger like a time lapse video of an algae bloom.“You know nothing about me! You know what I let you know, and that’s it! Don’t you ever, ever…” and just as quickly, my anger passed. I found myself standing, preparing to leave the restaurant and walk the three miles of sidewalk-less forest road home.“Sit down, son.”“Stop. Calling. Me. That.”“Why? You’re my son.” Without a word, I started toward the door. My mother grabbed me by the sleeve.“Sit down.” Her voice was far more gentle than just moments ago. I swallow my pride and sit.“What makes you think you are a woman?” She asks me.“What makes you think you are?”“I can give birth. I have. To you.”“And the other four, whoever they are.”“Don’t get snotty.”“Sorry. Do you honestly think the ability to give birth is what makes you a woman?”“Ye…”“And that said, with the anguish that this has caused in our family, between us, do you really think it’s okay for you to just rub it in my face how I’ll never have children?”“Well, not with Samantha…”“No, mom. No. The problem wasn’t just Sam. She has her own things as well, but it wasn’t just her.”“What are you saying?”“I’m saying that the reason we tried and failed…” eight times, dear reader, “to have children wasn’t solely because of her own trauma.”There was a heavy silence. The tension built. Now it was my mother’s turn to get angry.“You told me she had an IUD.”“I lied.” I said, mirroring her tone. “Sam is a survivor. I’m not going to tell you the story, it’s not table talk, but if you ever feel like finding out, you should ask her. She didn’t change her number after she split. The point is that the problem is with me.”“Oh my god, that’s what this is about! This whole transgender thing is because of Sam leaving!”I make a face. “Are you joking? How would that help?”“I don’t know, I don’t understand anything about this.”“Well, let me explain.”“I don’t want to understand.”“Understand what, mother? Me? You don’t care to understand what is happening to me? You think you know all, that you can find the appropriate Bible passage and just pray really hard and it’ll all just float away?! Why do you think I am like this?!”“I DON’T! I THINK YOU’RE TRAUMATIZED FROM YOUR DIVORCE! I THINK YOU PRETENDING TO BE A WOMAN IS ALL ABOUT NOT FEELING LONELY ANYMORE!”“I’m not. In fact, I’ve accepted that I may never find someone to share my life. And I took it gladly in exchange for not feeling the weight of my dysphoria anymore.”“Oh my GOD! YOU ARE NOT A WOMAN!”“Yes,” I hissed at her, the restaurant not even attempting to not stare, “so you have said. Very loudly.”“It’s true!” Suddenly the anger was back. As if she, by virtue of having failed to force dad to wear a condom when she was 16, knew everything. I was done.“WHAT IS A WOMAN, MOTHER?!”
By Sophia-Helene Mees de Tricht8 years ago in Viva
A Woman's Worth
It used to be that a woman's worth lied in her virginity, her purity; what men believed her to be. Growing up, that was all I ever heard. Don't date, don't be easy, a good man won't want to marry you if you aren't a virgin. Accepting your sexuality, as a woman, was the equivalent of blasphemy or committing some unspeakable crime. Yet when young boys went out and slept with 10, 20, 30 girls, they were considered conquistadors, gods; accomplished. It was damaging and confusing to grow up unable to ask questions and feeling like sex wasn't meant to satisfy me and even coming up with extensive lies so that the day I got married, my parents wouldn't be shamed because I wasn't a virgin. This twisted sense of our self-worth being measured by what men thought of us stopped me from coming forward the first time I was sexually assaulted, and the second time, and the third, and so forth. I always rationalized that letting anyone know would break my parents' hearts and that people would know I was worthless, unworthy of love or affection, damaged, unable to be repaired.
By Lois Lopez8 years ago in Viva
Sexism in the Geek Community
Comic books and graphic novels: two of my many favorite things. Two things that I had to keep hidden away while growing up. Two things that I cannot openly talk about unless I am with my husband. I'm 23 years old; I shouldn't have to hide this or be treated like a little girl that doesn't know what I'm talking about when it comes to my dork side.
By Kilyn Wymer8 years ago in Viva
Changing the Stigma of a Woman's Period
When I first started my period, I was horrified to walk on the path to womanhood. The women around me talked big about how painful the NORMAL life process was. At a young age, I already had a preconceived idea that being on your period was something to dread. “You're moody today. Are you PMSing?” is a common phrase used by men and women. It seemed to me that a normal part of a woman’s monthly process has become an excuse for men and woman to blame unrecognized emotion.
By Sadie Ansen8 years ago in Viva
How I Survived My Past
At the ripe age of 20, I among many others have experienced what life is like after being raped. I was around the age of 4 or 5 (I was young, and it's hard to remember exact ages). I was introduced to a sexual life that I shouldn't have had to live or understand until I was much older. This ultimately altered my life and my perception of myself.
By Roxanne Smith8 years ago in Viva
