Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Lets Talk About That: Body Image
There was a girl name Sheryl and she was the brightest in her class. She was reading books and solving problems like no other student had. The only problem was her brother. Her parents weren’t around much, so they never really influenced her in a important way but her brother was always around. What he would do is just make little comments about her that would hurt her feelings. He would say stuff about how ugly she was and how fat she was, even though she was not obese at all. One day, Sheryl’s brother once again called her ugly and fat, but this time Sheryl did one thing that will follow her though the years. Sheryl looked in the mirror, checking her appearance.
By Angel Tapia8 years ago in Viva
Wait, You Were Naked?
I could say that I was mortified about having every mole, pimple, and hair on my body captured in an eternal digital file. But the truth is, I didn’t really mind. I could say that my knees got weak at the thought of posing in a completely vulnerable state in front of dozens of people who studied every detail of my figure...but instead, I anticipated the moment.
By Amy Patterson8 years ago in Viva
The Concerning Trend of Our Bodies and Image Becoming Commodities
For my university project, I had to pick a study and design an academic poster about the topic. This is basically a colourful illustration of the findings of the experiment with charts, illustrations, and huge headers. You know, teachers forcing us to do something "fun" and creative between a 1,500 word lab report and a 4,000 word essay.
By Maura Dudas8 years ago in Viva
Fictional Characters I Admire
Like most of my generation, I grew up watching TV. There are probably hundreds of studies that tell you watching too much TV is bad for you, they're most likely right. However, I learned a LOT about life and myself through fictional characters and storylines. Some of the actresses behind these fictional characters have even become some of my favourite idols, and they do deserve the title "idol" because they are doing some amazing work in the activist world, and I am so happy with the fact that I get to admire the actress as well as the character. Whether I related to the character or they made me feel like I could face my own demons, I want to thank these women for making these characters so relatable and playing them so well!
By Shannon Courtney8 years ago in Viva
Love Yourself
I wasn't sure about creating this but I know other girls struggle too. I've struggled with my weight most of my life, I've always been the little pudgy kid. I've always had some sort of insecurity about my body and how I look. It's like you don't get bullied but you know people talk behind your back. Frankly, I'd rather have someone call me fat to my face than see them stare. On my bad days, I even tell my closest friends, "I'm fat," and of course they always respond with something like, "no you're not!"
By Alyssa Smith8 years ago in Viva
Equal Work for Equal Pay
I believe in radical changes with equal work, equal pay. Women get paid less than a man in many areas of work. Feminism seeks to level the playing field. Feminists want to help women climb the corporate ladder as equals to men. But in this political climate where the Republicans couldn’t stand having another liberal for president this time around, women are hard-pressed to find social equality at all. I value my brain and brawn over my body in general. I value my brains more than I value my physical attractiveness. I would much rather be known for academia than my beauty.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Viva
Am I a Feminist?
I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the idea of feminism. How do I, as a female that truly embraces my own femininity, identify with this movement? More feminist movements begin to surface themselves in my day-to-day life within my city and cities around the nation. Information, both fair and biased, is made easily accessible by various websites and social media platforms. And yet, the more I see regarding the current state of the feminist movement, the more hesitant I become to connect on a personal level.
By Mary Govoni8 years ago in Viva
PMS Survival Guide
If you're a woman like myself, I'm sure you can nod your head in agreement that being a woman is never easy. Especially when Aunt Flo pops in once a month for a visit. Here are a few tips and tricks to having a much happier period. Not to mention a much happier ending when it comes time to pop open the champagne as soon as Aunt Flo leaves. At least for another month. Here are some surival tips to make your visit with Aunt Flo more tolerable and much less expensive.
By Janelle Ouellet8 years ago in Viva
Play Our Way or Get Out: Hollywood’s Persistent Message to Women
I have a problem with female reboots. I have a problem with reboots and remakes and adaptations anyway—especially in the video game category, where quality is compromised for dollar signs—but I particularly find issue with female-led reboots. They fundamentally send the wrong message to women in Hollywood, and to girls the world over.
By Joe Stevenson8 years ago in Viva
To Filmmakers That Make Rape Scenes
I know what you’re thinking; you’ve heard all of this before. You’ve already been contacted by plenty of other rape survivors who’ve told you how you triggered them with that graphic scene. You’ve heard hundreds, maybe even thousands of times how you made other women burst into tears and have to leave the theater, or even triggered panic attacks by making such a realistic rape scene. Maybe some of you have openly apologized to anyone that you offended with that scene. Or maybe, instead, you’ve decided to stand by and defend the scene, saying that violence is shown in movies all the time, and that you wanted to accurately show the horror of the crime.
By Elizabeth Brandon8 years ago in Viva
My Body and I
Being a larger female I have always struggled with self acceptance and learning to love myself. I find everyday I am in a constant battle with what to wear. What will look good and what I feel comfortable in. Most the time it’s black leggings and a larger t-shirt and my vans.
By Maddie Skelton8 years ago in Viva
