body

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

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
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
Why Are Periods Still So Embarrassing?
Today was the day of all days. I started my trillionth period, or so it felt. I went to the restroom, just to… you know… handle my business? Once my body stopped spewing waste through its natural process, I proceeded to wipe my twat clean. To my surprise, there she was, shedding from the inner layers of my love button; Mother Nature. As vibrantly red as she could be, arriving every month at any time she felt convenient, just to remind me that I am not pregnant (as if I could be). With all her glory, politely tearing my insides apart as she flows down my slit onto my panties. No matter how many times she has paid me a visit, I continuously feel the utmost amount of embarrassment, equivalent to my first visit. Now I started to become distressed. With my undies and jeans wrapped tightly around my ankles, I began to question my next move. Conveniently, I was in a restroom that contained a sink to my left. As I stared violently at my cunt, I told her, “Melinda, we are going to take off these bottom layers and walk to the sink to clean the panties that protect you. I swear on everything, if you drip blood on this floor or on my leg, you will not be receiving pleasure for a week, so be a good little girl and do as you're told.” Once we agreed, I slowly removed my shoes, then each pant leg slid off my bare feet, and finally my drenched panties slipped off as carefully as can be. I walked to the sink, soaked my panties with cold water and soap, and vigorously rubbed both sides of my panties together to remove the socially stigmatized blood that my inner loins created (without my want, permission, or control). I began to wonder, how will I now clog my hole to prevent more blood from escaping? I walked back to the john and rapidly put my clothes back on, in hopes that when I walked back into my last class, I would have some form of Mother Nature protection. As I desperately searched my bag, it became evident that I did not have any protection for this unexpected visit. I only had two choices. One, I go back to the bathroom and stuff an enormous amount of toilet paper in my trim, in hope that it will clog my hole long enough to provide protection. Second, share my embarrassing, current experience with another female by asking for a tampon. I went with the second option, as stuffing my twat with toilet paper like a turkey on Thanksgiving wasn’t appealing. I looked over to my classmate next to me and asked her for a tampon. She glanced over to me and secretly handed me a tampon under the classroom table, so no other student would notice. I nervously hid the tampon in my back pocket prior to racing out of the classroom to the restroom. I was able to confidently fill Melinda with the protection she deserves when Mother Nature occurs.
By carashari8 years ago in Viva
The Big, Round Obsession
Part of why I want to talk about this topic is because, as far as I am aware, a conversation about it has barely begun, and I think it would truly do us damage if there wasn’t one.
By iris georgie8 years ago in Viva
Will Beauty Save the World?
I spent the last decade working in the fashion industry as a model. And yet, I struggle to answer what exactly is beauty. Mainly because to me it is less and less about the physical as the time goes by. Yet as I try to explain this, not many will listen. Hardly surprising, since we are bombarded daily with the images of what is considered beautiful. Big eyes, full lips, small nose, pronounced cheekbones, slim waist, long legs - the list goes on. Barbie doll comes to mind- beautiful, but not real.
By Eva Smitte8 years ago in Viva
The Alchemy of PMDD
I was very inspired by a post I spotted recently on the Gia Allemand Foundation's Facebook page. A woman posted the question, "I'm wondering if anyone has found any beautiful things coming out of their PMDD experiences?" She went on to share how she was actively practicing gratitude when things were at their worst, and that this practice was giving her courage...
By Cheeky Minx8 years ago in Viva
Modern Birth.....Is This the New Dark Age?
Last night I was sitting at a table with 12 women from all walks of life, just getting together for a monthly night out away from our spouses and children. Someone at the table had announced that she was expecting her first. Out came the hugs and congrats as this new mom to be shared this extremely exciting news. Following that came the birth stories, the what to expect, advice, and so on. As I was sitting there listening and sharing my own story I noticed that over two thirds of the women there had had a c-section or multiple c-sections. Most of them explained afterwards that they were told it was an emergency situation but in the end it did not have to be done at all. It made me really ponder my own journey of birth and sense of sadness crept over me.
By Megan Aylward8 years ago in Viva
"I Cured My PMDD"
I've been wanting to write this piece for some time, but I haven't been quite sure how to approach it. It's a sensitive thing. But I think it needs to be said, so here goes. There is a tendency in our community (that being women with PMDD) to get very...perhaps overly...enthusiastic about our discoveries.
By Cheeky Minx8 years ago in Viva
L.O.V.E. Your Body, Love Yourself
FEBRUARY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO L.O.V.E. OUR BODIES??? In a culture full of whos and whats we should look and feel like around every corner, life can get pretty confusing, particularly about our health and our bodies. Eating disorders of all kinds are at an all-time high in our world right now, not only including the USA. We have to learn how to look at all the fake imagery sent our way out there and filter through what is realistic and what is truly beautiful. Growing up, I was always a bit bigger than my friends around me; not a big girl, just a bigger size, bigger bones, more of a muscular build. I always felt self conscious... now a mom and (let's not sugar coat it) struggling with truly being overweight, I wish I could go back to my teenage self and say, "STOP! Look at yourself! You are the most beautiful and thin and in shape you will ever be, so enjoy it and put on those damn short shorts and strut! So what if you are a size 7 and she is a size 2!" But looking back, I just always thought I could be skinnier, prettier, more blonde, more brunette, more this or that... How much time I wasted thinking such negative thoughts about myself. Well, no more. Yes I am struggling with weight and body image now as a new mom and as someone who has a thyroid condition and let's face it — as someone who just loves to sit her buns on the couch and watch Netflix with whatever free time I can get nowadays. But here is a new campaign I am starting myself on. I am calling it L.O.V.E. your body. I truly hope all you gorgeous people out there can join me in uplifting yourself to a new healthy standard of what true beauty is.
By Courtney Maurer8 years ago in Viva
Laura's Boutique
For those of you who are not familiar with Laura's Boutique, it is a small clothing brand that currently has three locations open (to my knowledge) in Los Angeles, CA, which are all run by Laura Mellado. Laura's Boutique has recently been booming more than ever and this is probably due to the exposure she and her brand have gotten on social media. It's very clear that she cares about her fans and supporters as she is always doing giveaways and often interacts with customers through her comments answering any questions they have as well as providing them with promo codes to save them money. I say this so that it's clear I am in no way attacking her or her personality. In fact, I think she is one of the very few brands who has stayed connected with her supporters no matter how large her fan base has gotten. I am writing this SOLELY to address the lack of diversity when it comes to the body types she and her brand represent.
By G M8 years ago in Viva
How My Body Shamers Got Me to Shame Myself
So where do I begin? Where do I even begin to start when I have endured over ten years of cruel and mean insults? Insulted, "joked" toward and beaten up emotionally about my body. How do I even begin to address these people? Well here goes nothing, let me tell you how I felt.
By Alexis Quintana8 years ago in Viva