Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

This Girl Can! Can She?
Do not get me wrong! I am all for empowering girls and women, in whatever they do. This may originate from the simple fact that I am a woman or maybe I just want everyone to get the chance to succeed in what they love.
By Ally Long8 years ago in Viva
PCOS & Me...
So as a young girl, I was always hairier than the other girls and a little chubbier too. My mum used to make passing jokes about me being her little gorilla, which was funny I guess... until I became a teenager. I remember being about 12 and finally starting my period. I was rather excited to finally be "becoming a woman." All was going well until I turned 13 and started having periods once every three months (if that). I felt like I’d been stripped of my womanhood. But ah well, not a big deal, right?
By Lily Amos8 years ago in Viva
Dear Stranger, I Don't Care If You Call My Daughter "Him"
People have called my daughter a boy even when she’s wearing pink shoes and a pink shirt. Has it ever bothered me? Not a tiny little bit.
By Justine Sheppard8 years ago in Viva
Objectification or Admiration? - The Problem With Sexuality In The Media
This may garner me with an abnormal amount of disdain, but this weekend I saw a post on the Creators Facebook Page that got me thinking in general about sexuality in the media. The meme was shared to the page with no ill intent, yet there were several creators, myself included who took offense at it: not because of the image, but because of the text that accompanied it - stating "Ronda Rousey looks better lying down anyway." - At the time meant it was meant to reference Rousey being knocked down in a fight that was supposed to be a win for her, but the sexually-infused meme, was not simply poking fun.
By Matthew Bailey8 years ago in Viva
Speaking Out About What Needs to Be Spoken About
My first encounter with sexual abuse was when I was 8. It lasted for a year. Not just by one person, but 3. I won't name any names at all. However, I also wasn't the only one it was being done to either.
By Kirsten Wills-Ashlock8 years ago in Viva
Mother May I
It seems to be a popular topic to discuss regarding body shaming. With social media in our grasps, today’s generation have taken bullying to the next level… we have young girls starving themselves and committing suicide every day because they couldn’t reach that idealistic “perfect” body.
By Ama8 years ago in Viva
Being Black, Female, and Childfree
All I did was say that I needed to use the one computer in the office designated for staff use. My co-worker turned my request into an attack on her and her pre-school aged child who were eating lunch at the desk the computer sat on. She told me that she knew I didn’t like kids, but I had no right to be rude to her and her kid. “I didn’t think I was being rude, but if you thought that, I’m sorry,” I told her. I could have brought up the fact that her kid had an open container of BBQ sauce and a soda dangerously next to the computer’s keyboard. I could have pointed out that there were other places in the building where they could have eaten. The weather was nice enough that they could have had lunch outside. I didn’t go there. She grabbed her kid – whom she had a habit of bringing to work with her most days -- and stalked off.
By Hillari Hunter8 years ago in Viva
Saying Goodbye to the Greatest 2017 Spring Fashion Trends
Have you ever cringed while looking at someone wearing puffy sleeves, your grandma's floral curtains or khakis? Well, you may want to visit a therapist, because darling those are the hottest spring trends of 2017. You may have been noticing that style loves to repeat itself like old reruns of The Andy Griffith Show. Hopefully, that isn’t much of a surprise to you and that you're prepared to hear the rest.
By Aubrey Lorena8 years ago in Viva
But I Might Break a Nail
I was training in a boxing gym where there was only one other woman beside me. She and I never had the pleasure of sparring with each other, but we had no qualms about facing the guys in the ring. Eventually, two more women joined the class. They arrived ready with headgear, hand wraps, and a couple of pairs of very expensive looking boxing gloves. The women were also dressed in the most popular style of workout fashion and wearing makeup. The coach expected everyone to spar, and when he brought that up to those two, their eyes widened in terror. “We actually have to hit people?” they said. They never came back to the gym. They had been there less than two weeks.
By Hillari Hunter8 years ago in Viva
Me Too
For the longest time, I have been afraid to tell people about some parts of my past. I have been afraid to attach my face to a story of sexual assault and abuse. I have been afraid of what my family will think of me, what my friends will think of me, what my future partners may think of me. I have been afraid of what they may make me feel obligated to do, such as taking legal action against the one who did me wrong. I have been afraid of the potential implications of admitting what happened to me.
By Emily Dean8 years ago in Viva
Womanhood in This Society
I just want to start off by saying that I do not like to sugarcoat things or beat around the bush so if you are one of those people who might get easily offended (most Americans) than this post may not be for you. So with that said, if the above applies to you, then please avert your eyeballs. Thank you much!
By Alyssa Horn8 years ago in Viva
Me Too
There’s nothing worse than your trust being betrayed by someone you thought would always hold it. Well, maybe there is. But that’s got to be the worst experiences of my life. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let it go, but now’s as good as time as any to start. The first step in moving on has got to be sharing it, right?
By Natalie Andrus8 years ago in Viva