Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

Silence
We’ve all heard the phrase "Silence is golden," its full version being: "Speech is silver but silence is golden." Until recently I didn’t think much of this saying, but now I beg to differ, and I’ll tell you why.
By esthatee .8 years ago in Viva
Worldwide Outrage Over Neomasculine Misogynist Anti-Feminist Blogs and Articles
An online men’s rights activist group has caused a worldwide uproar due to a quote regarding their stance on rape: "I propose that we make the violent taking of a woman not punishable by law when done off public grounds”
By Valerie Holt8 years ago in Viva
Beyond the Scales
The princess curled herself up in a ball, doing her best to ignore the chains which shackled her wrists as she tried to get comfortable on her bed. She was acutely aware that her fever was getting dangerously high, and she wondered how long it would be before the prince would come and rescue her, because she wasn’t sure how much longer she could withstand the heat in the dungeon.
By Jade Fitzgerald8 years ago in Viva
Why Are We Obsessed with Being Beautiful?
Ever since I was a little girl, I was taught—directly and indirectly—that women are supposed to be beautiful. Our role models as little girls were beautiful princesses who men sought and loved. They had everything we crave: the perfect face, the perfect life, the perfect guy.
By Sarah Ahmed8 years ago in Viva
Dear Body
Dear body, I’m sorry that I’ve spent the last twelve years hating you. I’m sorry that I would beg to be someone else. I would look in the mirror every morning in my adolescence years tearing you apart, begging for a miracle to occur where my appearance changed completely. I’m sorry that I would grab you and squish you trying to photoshop the fat away in my mind. I was surrounded by beautiful women and girls all the time. I was angry that my body wasn’t as gorgeous as theirs. At the ripe age of eleven I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I hated you even more body. I hated that you couldn’t do your job without the help of a pill. I hated that you weren’t going to survive without a pill. I hated you. I spent hours in the mirror covering every freckle and mole. Trying to erase my identity and who I was. The stretch marks that told the story of how I grew and how I was growing were ugly and I resented them. The pink stripes covering my body were a sign of hatred to me, many hours were spent trying to cover every single one up. I would hide you wearing my father's clothes that swallowed me, not wanting to be seen. I would refuse to shop because of you, begging not to go. The clothes I liked no longer fit, and the fashion industry was still stuck in their size zero mindset. I always thought that because of you I was never going to be loved. Who would want someone so fat? I thought I didn’t deserve love. I always wanted someone else to stare back at me through the mirror, but my biggest fear was what if I would hate them too.
By Ren S8 years ago in Viva
Love After Abuse
One of my very first memories as a child is of being beaten by a Goliath of a man. My father is 6'6", 500 pounds. Why he ever felt the need to beat a tiny little girl is beyond me. I will never, ever, as long as I live, understand anything that occurred between that man and I.
By Anna Lee8 years ago in Viva
Body Acceptance
All my life, I’ve been overweight. I remember the fat jokes starting as early as elementary school. Now, at 29, and still to this day (20 something years later), the ridicule still rears its ugly head. Sometimes it’s lightly joking. Sometimes it’s just rude remarks from passerby’s. Sometimes it’s just a blatant comment so hurtful they may as well have just stabbed me with a knife. I’ve tried every diet known to mankind. It’s not like I chose to be fat, but here I am. Fat and happy to be here.
By Jess Dickison8 years ago in Viva
Conversations I Wish I Had (#1)
Before starting this letter, I want to put a disclaimer here. This is... not an easy read for some people. Some of you may have experienced sexual trauma yourself and this story may bring back unwanted feelings and memories. If you start to have trouble, I encourage you to put the story away and reach out to a safe person to talk to. Myself included. I have my Instagram profiles up in my bio on Vocal. So you can always reach out to me if you feel like you can’t speak to anyone else.
By Rowan Flores8 years ago in Viva
The Funeral Industry. Top Story - June 2018.
What’s a woman’s role in the funeral industry? From my view, nothing of any respect. That probably sounds a little harsh, and granted, I am speaking from my own personal experiences (which are many and varied)—but from what I’ve witnessed, the funeral industry is one of the last bastions of ‘Good ole boy’ chauvinism.
By Andrea Van Scoyoc8 years ago in Viva
An Interview with Nikki Sharp: Wellness Expert and Author of the “5 Day Detox”. Top Story - June 2018.
Nikki Sharp wants you to love your body without having to torture it. No extreme dieting or unhealthy fitness regiments; with Sharp’s book “5 Day Detox” and her overall outlook on living life in the healthiest ways possible, she is an exemplary role model for all women looking for ways to love, appreciate, accept, and help their bodies. After experiencing firsthand what it was like to live an unhealthy lifestyle in the modeling industry, her meal preps, podcasts, books, and tips serve as easy ways to live your best life. In this exclusive interview with Spotlight, Sharp reveals what led her to help herself, and ultimately, help others.
By Spotlight8 years ago in Viva
PMDD & Perimenopause
I entered perimenopause about four years ago. It not-so-coincidentally was accompanied by an intensification of my PMDD that eventually made me realize I had PMDD. Up to that point, I thought I was just the lone grumpy bitch everyone thought I was once a month for most of my life and that, for some reason, I had turned into a bigger grumpy bitch at the age of 45.
By Cheeky Minx8 years ago in Viva
Is New Wave Feminism Really Feminism?
To begin, feminism is commonly interpreted as women being considered equal to men in the eyes of society. The question I am asking is isn't it more important for women to be equal amongst each other first? What I mean by that is women are constantly bringing each other down, judging, and being concerned with ego. For example, a woman posts a picture of herself in a swimsuit and she has stretch marks, for she is the mother of three beautiful children. This women then proceeds to receive hate comments, for in the 21st century it is apparently abnormal to have stretch marks, even after having children (unless you're Kylie Jenner). Does anybody acknowledge the fact that she is a mother and proud? Absolutely not. What matters today isn't what kind of person you are, your likes are based on how you look and even to some extent, your social standing based on the materialistic items one has.
By Mama Gillman8 years ago in Viva