Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Women Know Hockey, Stop Pretending They Don't. Top Story - March 2024.
Gather 'round, readers! Today is International Women's Day, and I have a story to tell. In 2014, I watched and followed the hockey games from that year's Winter Olympics. I watched the US men's team reach the semifinals of the tournament, which are the medal rounds. We faced Canada. We lost to Canada, because of course we do. So we had to play for Bronze. We faced off against Finland. Finland beat us like we stole something. A 6-0 loss in the Bronze Medal Game, while Canada defeated Sweden to get the Gold.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Viva
Horror and Hope. Top Story - March 2024. Content Warning.
I am late entering this challenge, because I thought long and hard which woman has inspired me the most. I chose this person because I genuinely believe she deserves recognition for her outstanding skills and character in the face of adversity: Stanislawa Leszczyńska. She was a Polish midwife who was incarcerated in Auschwitz in 1943. She attended many births during that time. 3,000 babies were born under her care.
By Sam The Doula (Blooming Miracle)2 years ago in Viva
It Is Literally Impossible To Be A Woman...
I'll wait until everyone finishes groaning... There is a massive double-standard when it comes to female celebrities, especially in music. They're called bad parents for being on the road too much, only for fans to complain when they take time off touring to focus on having or caring for children. They're told to speak up about important topics, only to get shouted down when they do.
By Natasja Rose2 years ago in Viva
VOICES of Survivors
Over the past few months, I have been invited to join a wonderful group. This group is small in my area right now and we only meet once every two months but this is a National group that has been established since 2002 and it just keeps growing. This group's name as you've probably already gathered by the title of this is VOICES. We are a group comprised of men and women who are domestic violence survivors. Our group leader is Ms. Penny Hensley and she works very closely with our local law enforcement, our ADA's, our victim witness coordinators, WRAP(which is another wonderful service), and other agencies I'm sure I'm forgetting. The goal is to create a Family Safety Center so women, men, and children who are victims can go there for shelter and initiate any legal proceedings they may need/want to start during a domestic violence situation. Also, so they can have any questions they may have answered. Ultimately, we want you to feel safe, secure, and like you just received a hug at a time when your world is shaken. The first VOICES group started in San Diego, California in 2002 where the first members served as an advisory committee for the San Diego Family Justice Center. (https://familysafetycenter.org/voices/) You see, from the very beginning, we have been a group of people who want to make our VOICES heard. At one point or perhaps multiple points in each of our lives, our voices were silenced and this group, VOICES is about taking that back. This is about making people aware of not only abuse and its presence but also breaking down the barriers. There are so many stigmas around what a woman should take from a man because she needs to "obey her husband" as stated in the Bible, stigmas concerning whether or not a man can be a victim of domestic violence, stigmas even concerning how a victim should act after the fact(should she/he be quiet and not say anything or is telling people okay?), stigmas on therapy and how this can impact a person's mental health, etc. I could seriously go on and on. It is deeply troubling how we as a society victim shame and blame and then we wonder why these women keep going back to the violence or making excuses for their abusers or why a man is statistically far less likely to report D.V. than a woman. "Half of male victims (49%) fail to tell anyone they are a victim of domestic abuse and are two and a half times less likely to tell anyone than female victims (19%)." This quote from (https://mankind.org.uk/statistics/statistics-on-male-victims-of-domestic-abuse/). It is sad that we as a society(and yes I'm throwing myself under the bus here too) have taught women to be subservient to the point they could die or be raped multiple times and men that they have to be so macho that they need to suppress their feelings to the point it doesn't matter if they get beaten on? I'm sorry society and mankind as a whole but this is not ok! And honestly, this is why I'm still mad. I'm mad at myself, mad at society as a whole, mad at every abuser that ever was or will be and I'm mad at who hurt that abuser to make that woman/man into an abuser because typically every abuser starts as a victim first. So, let's turn things around gradually and step by step because we have to do better and be better and this is what VOICES is all about.
By Lindsey Altom2 years ago in Viva
Free The Hostages, Then Free Palestine From Hamas
It's been five months since the horrific massacre of the Nova Music Festival. Since that declaration of war, a lot has happened, but with International Women's Day approaching, it's important to remember those young women (and children, and elderly, and men) still being held hostage in Gaza.
By Natasja Rose2 years ago in Viva
My Caribbean Agoodjié. First Place in The Dragon Beside Me Challenge.
Guadeloupe – any time between 1635 and 1946 (perhaps even 2024) Picture a woman—a proud woman who stands tall and centers her values in every aspect of her life. Her elegance and her strength cannot be denied. In her presence, knees buckle and backs bend. Without ever uttering a single word, she calls for respect and special attentions. A silent look from her and everything falls into place. At times, she chooses to distill the entirety of her power in a simple throat clearing, which, in turn, can clear a table, empty a room or wipe out a workforce.
By Lily Séjor2 years ago in Viva
We call her Grandma...
This woman is amazing in every way. I was born when my mother was still just a child herself so this woman along with many others helped raise me. I feel I became in many ways, like a third daughter to her. At least, that's how I've always thought of myself especially as I've gotten older. When I was young, she would change my diapers, and watch me for my mama as she finished school, as I grew she would be sure I had my favorite breakfast so my mama could go ahead and go to work and then she would get me on the bus to school, she wiped my tears as those hard days came and went, she has been there to celebrate the good and the bad. She didn't do it to take me from anyone, she did all these things out of the goodness of her heart and to help. Sometimes in life, we get a person, a person with whom our heart intertwines and they become our person so to speak. My grandma has always been that for me. I can't explain it except to say that we just get each other on such a deep level. I can look into her eyes and know what she's thinking, know what she's feeling and she can do the same for me. She has always been able to see me for me, she has always heard me and accepted me for me even if she didn't agree or understand it. She has always fought for me even sticking herself in the fire to do so. This woman is a survivor and I will always look up to and admire her for her perseverance, honesty, bravery, and tenacity. She was a single mom for years with my aunt and mother to look after and care for and all that time she never settled back down with anyone else. Why? She didn't want anything else bad to happen to her girls. I know this because she's told me. She became a nurse to support herself and her girls and persevered. She has given so much of herself throughout the years even though it has never been easy. I thank God daily for my beautiful grandma because I know what a blessing I have in having her in my life. She is my dragon, my protector, my rock, and my shelter against the storms.
By Lindsey Altom2 years ago in Viva
