body

Feminism demands a future free of fat shaming, body obsession and the male gaze.

Identity - birth, death, re-birth
When I reflect on the birth of my first baby, and those early months, I know - if I'm being honest with myself - that I had one foot out the door.
By Sam The Doula (Blooming Miracle)2 years ago in Viva
Is Personal Agency Only for the Young?. Top Story - December 2023.
I am angry. This week I was Threading through Threads and came across a post from a woman that said, among other things: "How can I make my mother stop coloring her hair and just go grey? She's 62 and not fooling anyone; she and her friends are old and it's time that she acts her age."
By Judey Kalchik 2 years ago in Viva
Beauty- inner, outer and everything in between.
It is a bizarre notion , but what is considered beautiful at any given time in the society, is constantly changing, not unlike the fashion trends. Bizarre, because unlike clothes - people have a soul. Yet, they too are made to feel disposable. If they allow it of course.
By Eva Smitte2 years ago in Viva
Black Patient; Jefferson Health Breast Cancer Surgeon's Joke About Me Losing My Nipple During Lumpectomy Surgery . Content Warning.
Friday, 17 November 2023 By: TB Obwoge I was 46-years old, when I found out that I had breast cancer. It was one of the scariest days of my life. I didn't have much of a support system, my family is large and splintered. They're a bunch of strangers that share some of the same DNA as I do, a lot of them don't share the same feelings about life's issues either.
By IwriteMywrongs2 years ago in Viva
This Too Shall Pass
Every time I think I know the lay of the land, things change. Mountains rise in front of me where I’m not expecting them. I lean forward, pushing my heels into the earth and hike upwards. The things I thought would bother me don’t seem so bad. The anticipated ick of chemo – no taste buds, bit of nausea, exhaustion, loss of more cranial peach fuzz – it seems okay… even, manageable. Truthfully, the anticipation of losing my hair was far worse than the actual head shaving experience. I’m getting used to things – sort of.
By Cathy Schieffelin2 years ago in Viva
The PCOScience of Food. Content Warning.
When you have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (thereafter known as PCOS within this article), your biggest struggle after getting your diagnosis is managing your weight. Because no matter how frustrating it is, even after we are confirmed PCOS, weight loss and management is one of the biggest treatments for managing and regulating your hormone imbalance.
By Hope Martin2 years ago in Viva
One Secret Factor Boosting Women’s Self Worth
In the last decade, women have become a force to be reckoned with in determining significant others. Self-value and dignity-alongside matching demands for respect from their male counterparts-are on the rise.
By Ashley Tripp2 years ago in Viva
Success and Weight Loss
Celebrities and weight loss are a curious thing; well, no, actually, it's quite sad. There I was, sitting on the can, as some people might call it. For some reason, I didn't feel like browsing TikTok, which led me to ponder all the celebrities who have successfully shed pounds. I was seeking inspiration to trim down and possibly gain some muscle. I began typing "Rebel Wilson" into the search bar, and Google helpfully completed my sentence with "weight loss" as the top suggestion. Naturally, I clicked, and to my surprise, she and I are now roughly the same weight! That feeling of "Wow, a celebrity shares my weight; maybe I shouldn't body shame myself after all" washed over me. After this revelation, I wanted to keep exploring, perhaps finding other celebrities who are in the same weight range as me out of sheer curiosity. So, I started typing "Adele," and Google, as expected, offered a prompt for "weight loss." She lost 100 pounds, which was truly unbelievable, and she's now slimmer than I am! I was close to reaching her weight, but a recent all-inclusive trip to Mexico set me back a bit.
By Ada Zuba2 years ago in Viva
How to Change Your Self-Image
Disclaimer: To all who want to comment, "your self worth should come within," please refrain. It's not an overnight process & internalized criticisms skew our thoughts. Seeing the reality that you are loved is a step towards increasing your self worth.
By Ashley Tripp2 years ago in Viva
The Process Getting a PCOS Diagnosis. Content Warning.
I am sure I speak for about 98% of women who have been confirmed diagnosed by doctors of PCOS that getting that damn diagnosis was a struggle that rivals stopping the apocalypse. And I am sure 100% of women who have a hormonal imbalance that causes weight gain have been basically told by the doctor to “just lose weight.”
By Hope Martin2 years ago in Viva
PCOS = Painful Cramps On Steroids. Content Warning.
S.A Crawford wrote a vulnerable and revealing piece on her recent diagnosis of PCOS (otherwise known as, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). And the outreach of women who were all echoing the same sentiment that I did had me sitting with my eyes wide, and heart hurting. But also really proud of all the brave women who are willing to share their stories and the pains they endured to comfort Crawford and let her know she wasn't alone.
By Hope Martin2 years ago in Viva
Introducing the New Article Series: "The Ugly Truth About Fat" (working title). Top Story - October 2023.
Lately, I've been in a particularly deep depression and shame spiral. There are many causes and many things that are worsening the situation, but somehow, in my mind, everything that goes badly in my life seems invariably tied into my weight.
By Lena Beana2 years ago in Viva