Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Thinking a Few Steps Ahead
There’s been so much talk about sexual offenders in the celebrity circuit, I felt the need to address the issue. As a woman who is against the horrors of rape, I also believe that there are so many levels to these accusations and while “no means no,” we do have to start to implement some solutions to help each other. With the recent story of Aziz Ansari hitting the press, I found myself engaged in a debate on Facebook over a friend’s thread. We were clearly not going to agree on our stance in the matter. My opinion was very general, we as women need to work towards preventative measures and start thinking a few steps ahead of ourselves in situations that could prove to be threatening. A little preventative maintenance could go a long way and while it might not save us all, it could definitely help improve our current status with this disturbing growing culture of sexual assault and rape.
By Karina Nistal8 years ago in Viva
What It Means to Be a Women
I just wanted to talk about some things that us as women do (not all but some). My name is Essence and I was scrolling through my social media when I saw a question that popped out to me. What it means to be a women? For some women it means you need to keep yourself a certain way for men. Or staying home with the kids and making sure the house is in order. Now not all women are alike, some do it for themselves and they don’t care what anyone say. Let’s be honest though, as women we talk a lot of crap about each other instead of building each other up (some, not all). To me I don't think that there is one perfect women, but there are great women. I don't think wives have to stay home cleaning and taking care of the kids. It's give and take and men should do just as much as women. I feel like women don't have to cook for men. We do all this stuff just because. I feel like if I cook today then you can cook tomorrow, if I do laundry today then you can do it tomorrow, and if I picked to kids up from school today then you can do it tomorrow. There's so much that we put up for to please men. But I'm only 22 years old, so in my generation we are expected to do the most. The men of my generation (some, not all) think women with huge breasts, big butts, long hair, nails done, and light skin are perfect. But they also want us to be freaky but if we show our freaky side, then we a hoe. When men cheat it's okay but when girls do we are sluts and other things. If we are single and doing us, then we are thots. Men want us look and act a certain way for them instead of being ourselves. Again, I only mean some men, not all. If we don't have our nails done then we nasty because we don't keep ourselves up. Some of us have style and some of us just can't afford to have a style but it's like if we don't have to new Jordan's or some kind of Gucci, then we broke. Well I'm sorry but I ain't paying that just to look good. I think it's stupid all the things we have to do just for some men to accept us. If we don't have long hair then we bald, do we wear wigs, weave, braids, and ponytails. Now a lot of us actually like the extra things: makeup, piercing, lashes, etc. But when we do all those things and we finally get a man, they cheat on us and lie to us anyways; we're supposed to be queens but get treated like peasant. To me, being a women means being yourself. If you don't want to do the extra just to look good for men then don't. Some of us like it but if you don't then stop spending extra money stressing yourself out. Shoot, don't shave if you don't want to. Be free to be who you want to be. Do what makes you happy. But make sure you always handling your responsibilities. That's what being a women means to me. Not giving a damn and doing you no matter what. I want women to start building each other up and for men for one moment. I want women to accomplish all their dreams and do what makes them happy no matter what anyone say. That’s what being a women means.
By Essence Lee8 years ago in Viva
From Dating JFK to Potentially Portraying Peter Pan: Here Are 6 Interesting Facts About the Great Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn has remained an icon for generations due in part to her remarkable on-screen charisma, fashion sense and awe-inspiring philanthropic work. As the embodiment of grace whose image remains a staple on virtually every young woman's wall in the form of a Breakfast At Tiffany's poster, Hepburn managed to captivate the movie-going audience in such classics as Roman Holiday, Funny Face and Sabrina, just to name a few.
By Ghezal Amiri8 years ago in Viva
Tired of Explaining the Importance of the Aziz Ansari Story? This Might Help!
Imagine you are pulling out of a parking lot. You check your surroundings and everything looks clear so you start slowly backing out. Suddenly, an Audi going much faster than it should zips around the corner and hits your back taillight. The driver that hit you rolls down their window, sees the moderate damage, and says, “Didn’t see you there” and drives away. Baffled by the series of events that have just transpired you sit in silence for a moment while you process. By the driver's demeanor, you suspect they were intoxicated. Before the car pulls out of sight you instinctively snap a picture of their license plate and proceed to call your insurance company to report the incident. They promise to look into it. A few days later you get a call from the driver-who-hit-you’s insurance company. They remind you that some people are hit going 75 mph on the freeway and that you shouldn't be making such a big deal over a little fender bender. You try and plead your case again. You recount that the driver appeared intoxicated and that the driver committed a hit and run—but they cut you off. They ignore everything you've just said and bring up that the person you are accusing has a car that is more valuable than yours and the repairs are going to be more costly for them, so why are you complaining again? They regress further and tell your photo isn't enough evidence, there is nothing they can do for you, and hang up the phone.
By Claressa Slaughter8 years ago in Viva
Great Apps Every Woman Should Have on Their Phone
These days, our life is on our phones. It's sad to say, but we evolved to rely on our phones for many, many things. From keeping us organized, staying connected with others, and keeping track on our fitness, there's a lot that our smartphones can do for us. We keep financial records on our phones, make grocery lists, and email for work. We take advantage of our phones each and everyday. But we don't have to view our smartphones as something that's bad for us. In fact, we learn so much from using our phones.
By Penny Newton8 years ago in Viva
A More Complicated Butterfly
What makes a woman a woman? How does she know when she is separated from the girls? When is it okay to call her "hot" or "beautiful" instead of "cute" or "pretty"? Is it her age? When she gets her period or loses her virginity? Has she reached "womanhood" when she has to shave her legs? Maybe it's when she is treated like a woman instead of a girl? Maybe it's when she looks in the mirror and realizes it for herself? When she looks back on her life thus far, analyzing every scenario, hardship, and triumph, only to realize that she is no longer a little girl? Or, maybe it's not one of these things, but more than one? Or none of them at all? It all depends on the girl transforming into a woman. Girls are not caterpillars who spin their cocoons for a set amount of time to emerge a marvelous, transformed butterfly. We are much more complex than that. And I am no exception.
By Jennifer R8 years ago in Viva
Feminism Through My Eyes
Today, the fight for equality is quite possibly one of the biggest issues in our world. You may hear about a certain event taking place in your community or something in the news dealing with feminism, or equality. You may ask yourself what exactly feminism is. That I cannot exactly tell you as the word means many different things to many different people but I can tell you what it is to me.
By Catarina Vazquez8 years ago in Viva
Victoria's Secret Broke My Heart
As soon as I started buying my own bras, I was a Victoria's Secret customer. I loved the way they looked. Nothing fit me like those bras, and nothing made my boobs look better! I was IN LOVE.....but then, something happened that changed all of that, and that something was me having kids.
By Shana Nizeul8 years ago in Viva
