Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Gallantry and Gumption: Scarlett O’Hara
Gone with the Wind is a film many know of but few have seen. Its running time of just under four hours discourages many, as does the controversial setting of a pre-Emancipation Proclamation United States, and the fact that it is now over seven decades old. But if one overlooks these perceived flaws and sets aside 238 minutes of their time to watch Victor Fleming’s masterpiece, they will find an epic story of love, loss, passion, pride, and — above all else — resilience. This theme of resilience finds its home in the character of Scarlett O’Hara, the narrative’s protagonist and possibly one of the most iconic characters in American cinema.
By Fern Wigfield8 years ago in Viva
Androgyny Within the Media
Androgyny has always been a female-centred word. Despite its definition being a mixture of the two stereotypical gender norms, dressing in an androgynous fashion always seems to be centred around women donning a tuxedo, or cutting their hair in a style fashionable for men. It is not until now the dictionary definition of the word is being portrayed within society. Hegemonic masculinity is heralded as the epitome of the male, and it seems that until recently anyone that escapes this binary is shunned or outlawed. More so now than ever, these previous ‘outsiders’; the men embracing the fluidity of fashion and culture are rising. ‘Its boring to make clothes marketed to one group of people’ Patric DiCaprio of Vaquera New York believes, unusually, all his designs are unisex, placing him on a pedestal as one of the pioneers of the androgynous movement, saying no to the restricting stereotypes of societal norms when it comes to gender, that can often have traumatising effects on people struggling with their gender identity. Yet, things seem to be moving forward in the case of ‘androgyny’ or gender fluidity being a male and female inclusive word; the first male ‘CoverGirl’ (whose name seems ironic or contradictory given the circumstances, as ‘girl’ suggests this is a female-exclusive brand) James Charles is seventeen from New York and runs a youtube channel focussed on makeup and other typically ‘feminine’ habits, but this does not mean he identifies as anything other than male, as does Jaden Smith who regularly is snapped by the paparazzi wearing skirts, which is seen as ‘unusual’ by many mainstream press houses, despite them often placing women in suits or with pixie cuts as centre pieces in fashion articles.
By Daisy Gaunt9 years ago in Viva
PMDD: What to Tell Your Kids
Let me start off with a disclaimer. I am not a parent. I've said it before and I will say it again: I don't know how all you ladies with PMDD cope with motherhood. You are superwomen to be sure...and women of a class I will never comprehend. But I see every so often on message boards that some of you are having a hard time handling the responsibilities of motherhood when your symptoms are hot. And I often read that you just don't know how to explain your "craziness" to your kids and how worried you are that you are scarring them for life.
By Cheeky Minx9 years ago in Viva
Sororities: Cult or Culture?
It was something I had been dreaming of since I was little, especially since I only had brothers. I imagined having a close knit group of friends who were the underdogs who still came out on top in a climactic show of a well deserved victory like the Mighty Ducks, Space Jam, or any other 90s underdog story so as soon as I got the chance, I did it. I joined a sorority. No, those creepy door videos and rumors of hazing didn't faze me, oddly enough and surprisingly enough, hazing is seriously frowned upon in my organization, which gave me relief that I had one less hoop to jump through. I went through Spring recruitment which is more laid back and conversational and you get to skip the 60 dollar formal recruitment fee, which was a plus, and once the girl I spoke to talked about her dislike of children, I knew I found home.
By Sydney Moore9 years ago in Viva
Why Female Breadwinners Struggle With Relationships
Being born a female means that you're going to live your entire life dealing with double standards and mixed messages. This is a major reason why we need feminism right now. It's not fair to us, nor is it healthy for society to have these double-standards, either.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Viva
Why Plastic Surgery Can Be Feminist
I am non-binary and consider myself to be genderless. I refuse to wear skirts but love wearing my nails long, sharp, and polished. Most of the time, I like to bind my chest and/or hide my figure under baggy shirts. I'm also what one might consider a pretty staunch feminist, as well as a leftist extremist.
By Skunk Uzeki9 years ago in Viva
