#metoo
You are not alone. Together we can de-stigmatize speaking out about our experiences with sexual harassment, assault, and more.
#MeToo. Top Story - November 2017.
There’s this hashtag going around Facebook recently - you might have seen it? It goes like this: "If all the women/femme aligned folks who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote "#MeToo” as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem."
By Kate Nichols7 years ago in Viva
Comfort of Darkness
Darkness. It’s comfortable. I’ve hidden in it since I can remember, like delving into a cool black lake and submerging my head beneath the water, disappearing from reality. It stings my skin and makes me feel alive. Refreshed. To everyone around me, I am still invisible. I am safe, now. No more of that, no sir. I’ll probably have to go to the diner soon, to meet her, but I don’t want to. Little sister doesn’t understand me because she’s had a perfect life. After all these years, she loves to make damn sure I know it. She left me by myself that night, after we promised to always be there for each other. All that talk about sex — she loves it.
By Nadia Zielinska7 years ago in Viva
Of Course Men and Women Can Be 'Just Friends'
“Can men and women really be 'just friends?' Asking for a friend...” The Facebook page for the website SoulPancake.com decided to throw some chum in the water of the ongoing gender conversation by sarcastically asking if men and women can really be ‘Just Friends.’ I get what they are trying to do, kick up some social media dust for some action on their Facebook page. That said, the social media team for SoulPancake.com might want to read the room a little before they get cute with the traffic friendly cheapies. The question of whether men and women can be "just friends" is much more of a hot button than they seem to think.
By Sean Patrick7 years ago in Viva
#metoo: Thoughts for the Men We Love
I am really looking forward to the day when I don't first need to preface this post by saying I understand a lot of readers may not necessarily agree with this, and that clearly I am not casting all men into a pit of shame and blame. I'd really like to not need to remind the men who I love dearly that I do not see them all as mainstream jerks who've ruined my, or other women's lives.
By Katie Froese7 years ago in Viva
The #metoo Denier
I’m a sexist. This revelation was as much of a surprise to me as I’m sure it is to you reading it. Even more so when I consider my family, made up predominantly of strong women, and my friendship group full of bright, intelligent wonderful ladies, to whom I regularly preach the importance of women and female friendships. Not to mention the fact that I identify as a feminist.
By Lara Dolden7 years ago in Viva
#MeToo
This is the definition given to the word 'rape' in the dictionary: unlawful sexual activity carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female (paraphrased, because the full definition is MUCH longer). Unfortunately, society today defines it only as the act of forcing sexual intercourse. They say that what happened to me is called sexual abuse, not rape. I disagree.
By Jasmine Yingling7 years ago in Viva
#MeToo
I don't think that my story is unique in any way what so ever. Every day on the bus I have to put my head phones in to avoid getting hit on by old men who reek of vodka. If they do catch me with my headphones out, I have to say I'm not interested, or if that doesn't work, that I am a lesbian.
By Toni Riojas7 years ago in Viva
My True #Metoo Story
My true #Metoo story has yet to be told. I have shared other experiences like having my bra snapped by boys at school, instances of male classmates grabbing my butt while making nasty comments about me, and guys whistling or catcalling at me from their cars. These I have expressed openly as many others can relate. Although, these moments were uncomfortable, it was still so much easier to share. When it comes to my deeper story though, I hesitate to type the words.
By Kimberly Sterling7 years ago in Viva
Do I Deserve to Say "Me Too?"
Last week, we saw the emergence of a movement. Famous actress Alyssa Milano (whom I know best for her role on the TV sitcom Who's The Boss?) recently started a movement that encourages women to speak out about sexual harassment.
By Kendra Felicity Wheeler7 years ago in Viva
"You Should Leave"
I’ve been catcalled since I was 12 or 13 years old. I became a woman before my friends, and men don’t discriminate based on age when they know they’re safe yelling from the windows of their trucks. I could count those instances as the beginning of my story, but I don’t really think I saw men as a danger until my second year of college.
By Christine Harazim7 years ago in Viva
Crossing a Line . Top Story - October 2017.
Recently I was shown an article about a famous singer who was at a benefit concert. He was singing to a large crowd of mostly women. Yes there were men there too, but there was a huge crowd of women that were very close to the stage. As the singer often does when he performs he got very close to the edge of the stage. Many of the people there had their hands raised up in the hope that he might touch them. He also often takes flowers from them and other gifts. On this particular night like he often does he knelt down, and just as he did one woman grabbed his private part. Now this was not a brush of her hand, it was a grab. He quickly grabbed her hand and removed it. Because he was in the middle of his song he had to continue singing.
By Lilli Adams7 years ago in Viva