Beauty is in the Eye of Your Hair Dresser
I have a lot of thick hair. My teen years were filled with hairspray to keep the teased and elevated hair locked in place. All the trying-too-hard-to-be glamorous girls were doing it. I did it so well that I continued into my 20s, 30s, and even a little beyond my 40s.
Lisa Gerard BraunPublished 5 days ago in Viva
The List of 5 Ridiculous Things a Man Has Told Me About Womanhood
Women talk too much. That’s what some men say these days, isn’t it? Women talk and talk and don’t know when to stop. Well, as true as that may be sometimes, it can also just be a huge male moment of projecting without self-awareness. Contrary to popular belief, men can talk too much as well — especially when it comes to womanhood.
Kate FeathersPublished 12 days ago in Viva
It’s OK To Be Rude
The first time I was harassed, I was barely thirteen. Standing outside the grocery store where my dad was helping my grandma choose some things to bring back to her apartment, I waited with our new puppy on the sidewalk. It was busy and hot, the sun battering the pavement and the exhaust from cars clouding in the air. A man older than my father approached, petting our new puppy without asking. He then launched into a speech about how pretty I was, followed by an onslaught of questions begging to know my address, my phone number, my age and whether my parents were around. I told him I was just thirteen. He laughed, but was not dissuaded. I noticed how his eyes lingered in uncomfortable places for longer than I wanted them to. As he leaned close to me, I caught a whiff of alcohol from his faded t-shirt. Eventually, I ran inside.
Ilana QuinnPublished 15 days ago in VivaI Was Always Proud That I Wasn't A "Typical" Girl
I was always a little different from other girls in my class. While most of the girls liked to talk about clothes and fashion, I wanted to talk about books and the latest gadgets. I was always a voracious reader so wanted to discuss amazing things described in them(this was the pre-internet era when we relied on books for all our knowledge). But most of the girls couldn't share my interests.
Richa KharePublished 16 days ago in Viva
A Feminist Examination of "Twilight"...By a Man
The reputation of the 2008 cinematic adaptation of Stephenie Meyers’s Twilight precedes it, for worse and for better. Sometime in middle school, I attempted to read the original novel. Popular as it was, I found it dull and couldn’t bring myself to finish it. As such, when I was assigned to watch the movie for a college class, my expectations going in were rather low. Much to my surprise, I found myself actually liking the film somewhat. Director Catherine Hardwicke paints very beautiful cinematic pictures, and I found quite a few of the characters rather endearing—specifically, Bella and Jacob’s respective dads, Bella and Edward’s respective moms, Edward’s adoptive sister Alice, and Bella’s friend group at Forks High. And, for all the crap she has been given, I thought Kristen Stewart did well as Bella. All that said, Twilight still has its issues. Viewed through a feminist lens, though it is by no means a masterpiece, it is not completely without merit either.
Frank MacalusoPublished 22 days ago in Viva
Fangirl Culture Made Me The Badass Woman I Am Today
Originally published on Odyssey Online The first iteration of my Facebook page when I was fourteen included an expansive list of the fandoms I belonged to: Whovian, Potterhead. Directioner. Sheerio. The list went on and on. I listed my fandoms as my good qualities on a resume.
Alisan KeeseePublished 22 days ago in Viva
I Loved Gaining Weight — Until I Ventured Out of Quarantine
The moment the first lockdown happened, I quickly started gaining weight. Lots of take-out, the lack of exercise in a global pandemic, and living in a bubble of happiness with my newfound love all contributed to the change my body was going through.
Kate FeathersPublished 27 days ago in Viva
A Girl with Daddy Issues Is a Running Joke that Hides Its True Meaning
I have daddy issues. Just like dozens of other people I know personally, not to mention thousands of strangers. Women and men both struggle with daddy issues in all parts of the world, either subconsciously or on some active conscious level.
Kate FeathersPublished about a month ago in Viva
#metoo
You are not alone. Together we can de-stigmatize speaking out about our experiences with sexual harassment, assault, and more.
Swaay
SWAAY is a ground-breaking media and online publishing company that harnesses the style and glamour of today’s business-minded woman. SWAAY is dedicated to celebrating the stories of established and emerging entrepreneurs to advance more women into the forefronts of innovation and entrepreneurship through visually inspiring and intellectually engaging content.
Body Talk
Your body, your choice? A place to debate and discuss the complexities and controversies surrounding women's' health issues, reproductive rights, and bodily autonomy.
A Life of Not-So Secret Secrets
I’ve reached a point in my life where I want to spill the tea on so many things, not because I’m a gossip, but because I see how keeping quiet about the difficult truth is actually hurting others. There are so many things you are told not to talk about because it will hurt your employability or just generally society will consider you a pariah. I never fit in, not anywhere, not really. I grew up in a misogynistic, religious town and read graphic news stories about women and children being murdered by men repeatedly in the same hometown. Some of the kids even went to my school. One story made it all the way to Oprah, but not all of them. Not all women and children were murdered, most were hit and bruised and cussed out. Many others were told how fat and ugly and worthless they were. They were the same people I saw at church every Sunday. Unsurprisingly, there was also a drug and alcohol problem in my town. I saw friends and family negatively impacted by it. You may be reading this and saying, “So what? It’s the same story in my hometown. Deal with it.” I don’t think dealing with it is the solution. I would much rather have children grow up in a world where the people causing all of the harm were the ones getting therapy and not the ones being abused. That would be a nice change of pace.
Jennifer ThomasPublished 5 minutes ago in VivaAnthology of Ancient Heroines Part 3
Who was she and what did she accomplish? Disclaimer: This is a dramatization of a true story. The year is 1678 and it is a beautiful, sunny day in a secluded mountain village in Brazil. The village is made up of a free community of people who have escaped slavery and persecution from the plantations in the valley below them. "Dandara, Dandara, are you there?"
Jennifer ThomasPublished 39 minutes ago in Viva
The Perfect Date Preference
Planning the perfect date can be challenging leave alone dating in general. Ontop of the already stressful task, there is the ongoing pandemic. Traditional dating skills/format, rules, and techniques seem to have flown out the window, the moment COVID-19 reached USA soil. People are scared to go outside, leave alone mingle and socialize in a crowded place. Dating has become quite the challenge, not to mention meeting new people in general. I recently found myself in the dating predicament, in the midst of a pandemic. All my fun, favorite, hanging-out spots have closed down or have limitations on operational hours. The only location I can think of that is still functioning at 75% capacity is downtown Houston. The scenery in downtown Houston has always been Breath-taking, and night life is to die for. But since the pandemic, all that has changed. It is so unusual for the streets to be so silent, yet extremely rewarding at the same time. Houston being home of the Astros, Rockets, and Texans, the usual traffic to and from downtown now seem so foreign. I do not remember the last time I drove past NRG Stadium and Minute Maid for a long period of hours stuck in traffic. The drive to downtown is now less than 30mins, something that used to be 2hr maximum. The traditional football games, basketball games, and any major patriotic celebrations no-longer fill the streets of downtown. I can easily grab a quick bite with friends and companions without feeling the usual agony of driving to downtown.
Les is More
So many people in our lives become acquaintances. We may smile and wave at each other. We may exchange pleasantries. It’s nice to have such people around. It’s even more special when we can truly call someone a friend. Les (Lesley Anne Weatherdale) is someone easy to befriend. Not only does her smile make me want to smile back, but she is also intelligent, kind, and generous. I am so honored that I can call Les a friend.
Julie LacksonenPublished about 22 hours ago in VivaSleep & Your Cycle
Just like your skin and your energy levels, your sleep patterns change throughout the menstrual cycle. While it can feel like your energy and sleep are shifting forever without any sort of pattern, you can (and should) sync your cycle with your sleep self-care! In this post, we’ll break down the whys of each sleep change and tips that support the rest you need and deserve.
Say Yes to NourishPublished a day ago in Viva10 Fun Activities to Spice Up a Long-Distance Relationship
I suffered through a long-distance relationship, I don’t plan on going through that hell again, not if I can help it anyway. If you are in a long-distance relationship right now, I know it’s tough; that’s why I have compiled ten creative ways to spice a long-distance relationship.
THERE IS A GLOVE THAT IS MEANT FOR ALL OF US… DO YOU KNOW YOURS? #BODYTYPE
How many of you all were glued to that showroom window when you saw that dress the mannequin was wearing? But all your dreams came down crashing as you tried it on and realized that it looked awful! But why? Because it didn’t suit your body type.
Junction storePublished 2 days ago in VivaWith Class & Grace
Hey beautiful how are you doing? Have you eaten? Have you drank your 8 liters today? If not take a little sip right now. I’ll wait. I’m checking in on you, just in case no one has. Tired mamma? Yes i know it takes a village to raise a thriving little one. It’s hard to make the healthiest choices, because Panera’s bread bowls call your name like a drunk best friend after a break-up. Or when you go to Wendy’s for a salad but the picture of the bacon pretzel bun double cheese burger tells you it’ll hug you from the inside and then you end up regretting it middle of the night when the call of nature hits or early in the morning and your already late.
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