family
Family life from the feminist perspective; can women have it all? Can anyone?
Beyond the Sparkle: 5 Reasons Why a 1ct Engagement Ring is the Perfect 'Forever' Choice
The journey to finding the perfect engagement ring is often filled with a whirlwind of questions. Should you go for a massive stone that makes a statement, or something subtle? Should you prioritize the metal or the diamond? In the middle of all these trends—from the "minimalist" movement to the "bigger is better" celebrity culture—the 1ct engagement ring has remained the undisputed champion.
By Mohd Kaish13 days ago in Viva
Never Laugh at Woman's Pain
This story involves a life lesson learning experience for all women that they need to know and understand why they should never laugh at a woman’s pain because when she deals with it you will endure what she has. This story involves reality star and business Miss Nikki, former NBA basketball player/ wannabe rapper Gelo Ball, and Wild n Out gal Rashidia Nicole. Before I start to address this whole story and this is not a diss towards anyone, honestly, I was never involve in their lives and it is not my business to tell so. This is just a epitome of never laughing at woman’s pain.
By Gladys W. Muturiabout a month ago in Viva
"The Woman or the Girl You Knew the night before...."
"Girl... ..... you'll be a woman, soon." Neil Diamond sang those lyrics circa 1967, the same year Aretha Franklin was belting out "Natural Woman". Bob Segar recorded the song "Turn the Page" in 1971 with the lyrics "You can think about the woman, or the girl you knew the night before." And "She's Always a Woman" is a song by Billy Joel from his "Stranger" album of 1977, while the BeeGee's sang "More than a Woman"also in the 70s. People also loved John Lennon's song "Woman" from the album "Double Fantasy" released in 1980. After that, the 80s and 90s did not produce any big titles with the word "Woman" as the main theme. So? Why all this history of "Woman" themed songs? What's my point? What does it mean to be a woman? VIVA community wants to know. I think Neil, Bob, Billy, The Gibbs, and John, have all tried to answer the question for women, but how many women have written a song about Women? We might bark up Melissa Etheridge's tree or the Indigo Girls, but as far as I've heard of their songs, I've not found one focused completely on the word or theme "Women" --- which has me believing that neither straight or lesbian women really know what to say about the word "woman" or "women" yet I have just thought of one artist who did come up with something in the 90s: Shania Twain. "Man, I feel like a Woman." Oh, wait. Another artist just came to mind - Whitney Houston (in the 80s) did do a remake of "I'm Every Woman" which was a Pop Hit for her.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 months ago in Viva
The Way of Being Grateful
Virtues are just as strong as vices. I ask myself if I'm a virtuous woman. I ask myself "Am I patient? Am I honest? Am I compassionate? Justified? Prudent? Faithful? Virtues are not easy. Vices are easy. I can easily say I can be too proud sometimes and I've known wrath. I can easily admit that envy, lust, and gluttony have caused much grief in my life. Roman philospher Cicero claimed that "Gratitude is a parent of the other virtues" although in many books written about virtues or vices, gratitude is not mentioned. Maybe that's because in November many of us celebrate the official holiday called "Thanksgiving Day" which was made an official holiday in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. "The holiday was permanently fixed to the fourth Thursday of November by a law signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941." (per google, 11/1/25)
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 months ago in Viva
Applying Piaget to Women Reinventing themselves
Have you ever heard of your favorite star (actress, singer, or something else) talk about how they got to a point in their lives where they had to "reinvent themselves"? I read articles (starstruck long ago) about some of my idols mentioning that phase or stage of their lives. I think it's very Piaget in thought or psychological consideration. Stages. Certain time periods of our lives. The childhood is different from the teenage years. The young adult life is different from the new mom and dad years. The empty nest or divorce years are different from the married grandma and grandpa years... Etcetera. For me personally, the past eight years have been challenging me in the harshest aspects of aging to "reinvent myself" --- and let me tell you --- for a stubborn 50-something woman like me who finds change uncomfortable, this "stage" or "phase" of my life and aging process has been utter drudgery.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman3 months ago in Viva
50-something women get hobbies
I love decorating - always have. The women of my family were good at many things especially cooking, shopping, and decorating. When we were little kids, we just had to go to school and we got to free-load and enjoy all the delicious meals and holiday magic that our mothers created all throughout the year. Year after year, until that horrible day: Graduation. Oh no! Now I'm officially an adult and I'm expected to know everything these amazing Divas know. Huh? Me? So I embarked on the quest of the job and apartment. I had a few good moments in my 20s. My little studio apartment in Hyde Park was thrifto-cute. My townhouse in North Tampa with my roommate Tammy was stylish and welcoming enough for visitors. My tiny pad in Keansburg, New Jersey was more affordable than glamourous, but definitely qualified the word "efficiency". Yet in all my 50 plus years of living here or there or anywhere, I've never really had a "home" that I could say was decorated to perfection.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman3 months ago in Viva
Finding your groove in the 50s
How come we don't have a show on television called 50-somethings? There are plenty of shows with the kiddies as stars, or the teens as stars, or the 20 and 30-somethings as stars. They even have movies and shows for the silver haired folks in their 60s and up club. What about the 50-somethings? Where's our movie or show? When I was younger I had all kinds of guidance. The Breakfast Club helped me through high school. Sex in the City helped me through my 20s. Comic books and movies helped me through the 30s and 40s. Now what? Whose representing the 50-somethings journey and pathways? I feel like I have no guidance. In a way, I like that. I'm too old to be listening to a drill sergeant or condescended to as if I haven't been around the block. Yet, there's still a piece of me that is uneasy and insecure about navigating on this new territory commonly called "over the hill" or "after the change". Big changes, big accomplishments, yet not much art or literature for guidance or reference as if the 50-somethings are in unfamiliar living situations. I trust my own instincts and judgements most of the time, but I do feel a discomfort of not having more movies and books to use as a reference for this phase/chapter of my aging experience.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman3 months ago in Viva
Penis Envy changed in the 70s
Did you think that Frued was a lunatic or just a sexist male chauvenist pig? Did you ever consider that as a woman you might have "penis envy" and that if you had been born with a penis all of the horrors of being a woman might never have occurred? I did. I thought maybe if I just had a penis I wouldn't be subjected to objectification, being considered property, or the disrespect that comes from those who still want to punish Eve's daughters just for having a vagina. Not only was I proud that I bore a son instead of an evil girl, I finally had my own personal penis. Or so I thought. But really it's not about the penis at all. Nope. It's not about the vagina either. This whole sexist thing is just a sado-masochistic game that both sexes have been playing since before 1908 when Freud published his "Penis Envy" theory.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman3 months ago in Viva
Grumpy Old Lady Angry at the Economy
I'm frustrated as hell today. Grumpy and snarky. I didn't have to fight the cat to get to the coffee machine, but I couldn't find a pair of pants quick enough, and when I organized the coffee station yesterday I forgot where the filters were. By the time I sat down with my coffee I was already grumpy. The other day my ex-husband/current roommate stood at the coffee station (that cost $400 and I'm making monthly payments on) as if he owned it (because he's a bully who is three times bigger than me and he knows niether of us want to go to jail) and forced me to ask him if I could get myself a cup of coffee (because he was in my f'n way) so I did while I shot him daggers from my eyes and poured the hot coffee into my cup when I really wanted to smash the glass pot against his skull. Whoever said I'm not a good actress, lied. He gets his jollies off by demeaning me with that passive-aggressive behavior. Does it in regards to the toilet also which is why I sometimes have to leak or poo in my own personal bucket toilet.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman3 months ago in Viva
