body
Feminism demands a future free of fat shaming, body obsession and the male gaze.
Innocence Stolen
Growing up from what I can remember, I didn't have a horrible childhood. Both my father and my mother provided my brother and I with all that we as children would need materialistically and emotionally. I remember my mother and I not being super close, that was saved for my brother. Myself, I was a daddy's girl. Both my parents were hard workers and worked quite a lot, my dad more-so than my mother, being he had quite a few old fashioned ideals. My brother and I were close but grew apart as teen years came upon us and incidentally our hormones that made us detest each other. My parents went on to get a divorce in my early teens thus causing a divided home; I with my father and my brother with my mother. My brother would go on to thrive both socially and financially as my mother soon moved out of state once we reached adulthood. My dad ended up remarrying twice and is finally happy. Where did I end up? Jobless for most of my early 20s. In and out of therapy for a good 2 years after a failed suicide attempt around 21 years old. Did you know that severe abuse can cause lapse in memory from the time it happened until after it stopped and sometimes longer? Well if you did know that, you knew more than I did. After my suicide attempt I was put into therapy twice a week for the next 24 months. Upon being in therapy I discovered that I had been blocking out memories of being molested 8 years as a child. My suicide attempt was due to being overwhelmed with the side effects of PTSD. At the time of my attempt I did not know what PTSD was or that it was a thing. All I truly knew was I was having night terrors that were so vivid I would wake and believe I was still living the nightmare due to smells as well as seeing and hearing things; all which were never there after I woke up. I knew before seeking help I had been abused.
By Megan Wheeler8 years ago in Viva
Pregnancy Insomnia
It is hard enough to sleep on the best of days. With stress and the chaos of life weighing on your mind, it can keep you up at night. Perhaps you've never been great with sleep. Perhaps your mind races or you can never get comfortable. But you have coffee in the morning and you move on with your life.
By Samantha Reid8 years ago in Viva
Why?
Why? Sometimes that's all I can ask myself is Why? Why do I put on makeup? Why do I wear shape wear that is so uncomfortable just to make my tummy look flatter? Why do I wear shirts that show off my cleavage? Why? To make me feel pretty? To make me feel sexy? Yes I feel pretty and sexy when I do all of this stuff, but how about when I take it all off? Do I still feel pretty? Do I still feel sexy? No, I don't feel like that. There are times I go through all this work so the world sees me as pretty or sexy but I still feel ugly and gross. The days I do go out with put my makeup on, I get asked oh are you sick? You don't look well. Oh why is is your face so red? Oh when are you due? No people this is me, the real me. It is so hard to live in a world where I can't feel pretty in my own skin. I'm sorry I'm not a size 2 so I look pregnant to you. I'm sorry my skin is not prefect without my layers of makeup on. It's bad enough feeling ugly and gross. I put my makeup on everyday before work and my daughter plays along with me. She tells me everyday after I put on makeup that I'm pretty.
By Angelique Wood8 years ago in Viva
How Birth Control Works
Birth control works to prevent pregnancy as well as to repress the menstrual cycle. Hormones need to be replaced in order to not allow a pregnancy to happen. The birth control pill is a form of contraceptive that works when ovulation is stopped (when the egg is released). Birth control also helps make the cervix’s mucus get thicker rather than stay fluid, which allows sperm to enter the vagina so that the egg can be fertilized. Birth control completely stops the fertilization process. This is why birth control must be taken one pill at a time, one day at a time, daily.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Viva
Do You Know About Stealthing?
When I first read about this disturbing trend I struggled to wrap my brain around it. Part of me was surprised that men are doing this. And the other part of me isn't surprised. Not. At. All. But what the fuck is so hard about consent? To me, it seems like a really simple concept, but there are a lot of people who to struggle in understanding it.
By Shana Nizeul8 years ago in Viva
Worst Gifts for Your Vagina
As most gynecologists will tell you, your vagina is both extremely tough and extremely delicate. It can bear childbirth, but it can't bear having too many outside pollutants in there. Vaginal health is a crucial part of women's health, and sadly, a lot of people out there are more concerned about profit than they are about safety.
By Mackenzie Z. Kennedy8 years ago in Viva
I Think You're Fat... I Can't Date You
Everyone has a type. It’s normal to be attracted to different body types, different colored hair and so on. But when does it go from “you are not my type” to a completely rude and bully-like statement? How many of us have experienced shaming only because of the sole appearance of, well, YOU.
By Dasha Ilazarova8 years ago in Viva
