Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Sex! Stigma! Shame!
Could the above picture be the reason why sometimes these words are associated with each other? I remember when I was younger, and was sat watching TV with my parents, and my niece who is seven years my junior (Hi Sam), and a sex scene would come on during the film or programme. Sam and I would look at each other with a mix of sheer embarrassment and wonder, as in I wonder what Dad is gonna do now? I can still feel the heat in my cheeks as I remember.
Gillian FosterPublished 5 years ago in VivaA Movement and a Celebrity
As a consultant my role changed drastically from that of a court advocate. I still felt I was speaking to a system on behalf of survivors of intimate partner violence. Recently my role as a consultant is placing me in a position to educate, change minds, and create culture. It is very different from engaging a system that already is to actively create teaching moments to change a system. However, change and growth is part and parcel of this work. How else are we going to eradicate gender-based violence? Change and growth in my path have not been easy and have not been without mistakes. What has helped me is to be humble, sit down with the people who started doing this work before me, read the foundational and theoretical work, and be close to the communities and people affected by intimate partner violence. And always, always feel a dedication and a responsibility to the people I am serving. Not as numbers and statistics, but the people I dedicated years to sit across and besides, hearing their stories every day, witnessing trauma, being a steward to witnessed pain.
Shanali InchausteguiPublished 5 years ago in VivaAdvantages of Wearing a Sports Bra Instead of a Traditional Bra
Who said sports bras are for female athletes or those who engage in physical activities? In fact, a sports bra is much more than a workout accessory. Many doctors recommend women wear it even if they aren’t exercising. This is because it offers several health benefits and also helps to maintain wearer’s health.
Kiran RaghuvanshiPublished 5 years ago in VivaGrinding Your Crotch on Me During Rush Hour
So after moving to London almost two years ago, I had long dreamt of 'The Commute.' The hustle and bustle of busy London life that excited the young Essex girl in me. The thing that no-one really tells you? The HARASSMENT you will be subjected to on that train.
Natasha K StonePublished 5 years ago in VivaWomen Open Up About How They Stay Safe While Running Alone - Reigning Women
And you thought the actual running was exhausting... What is normally considered a relaxing and distracting form of physical activity can be one of the most terrifying and anxiety-stricken daily ventures for a woman. Women were recently asked on Twitter to share what great lengths they go to in order to ease some of that anxiety and, further, keep them safe.
Reigning WomenPublished 5 years ago in VivaStarting to Understand Personal Interactions
Recently I got the opportunity to work alongside a staff writer and reporter for my college town's newspaper (who shall remain nameless). The topic I decided to help him on was about the topic of sexual harassment; a topic I care about. Though this was not the primary reason why I chose it, there were other factors in play. The most vital one to me was to show how the issue of sexual harassment is still prevalent today.
Idalis WoodPublished 5 years ago in VivaRihanna Is Officially the Most Wealthy Female Musician—Reigning Women
B*tch better have her money… Photo courtesy of UsWeekly Forbes released its Richest Self-Made Women’s List yesterday, and, naturally, the walls of the Reigning Women offices were #shook.
Reigning WomenPublished 5 years ago in VivaFlowers and Genders
I use to work at a flower/gift shop. I made flower bouquets, I sold chocolate, I blew balloons, and make bouquets out of them, etc. My boss is an old guy. He’s nice, a third of the time (so when it comes, you just say nothing and enjoy it… while it lasts). He’s got an older mentality. I asked him the reason for never hiring guys, and I wasn’t surprised by his answer. He says that it wouldn’t attract clients having a man selling flowers. I asked one of my coworkers the same exact question, and she said: “It would be emasculating for the guy to work here” (emasculate means to be weaker, to lose strength) (fun fact about this word, it has the word “masculine” in it… so being a man means you’re strong… girl power? what’s that sh*t?). As you can see I work with open-minded people. When I got her answer, I realized that she was almost the exact same age as my boss (not judging older people, nor criticizing them, but at the time that they were our age, being a homosexual/a woman/or anything other than a white male was a bad thing). So, after that I asked a girl my age. Her answer was the most fantastic one yet: “He’s going to look gay! A guy selling flowers… you’re joking, right?” Basically, they’re all telling me that you've got to be born with a vagina and boobs to work in a flower shop.
Asian WomanPublished 5 years ago in VivaStereotypes that Threaten Women in Leadership
Introduction Women face many difficulties in the workplace, several revolving around leadership, and their perceived ability to lead, especially in male dominant offices and organizations. In recent years, the United States has begun to move towards egalitarian households, where they have traditionally been paternalistic households. Paternalistic households generally included the male/father/husband figure working, and the female/mother/wife remaining at home. Egalitarian households include both parents/partners working, and living in equal roles, contributing to the financial, and physical well-being of the household, and lives dependent on the contributors. Many, if not the majority, would consider this move towards female-male equality to be a stepping stone in history, one that is long overdue. According to data collected in 2017, women now account for 47 percent of the United States workforce (Warner & Corley, 2017).
Soapbox Science
What are scientists doing in the lab now? What can scientists do in the lab? How many (current) female scientists have you heard about? Do you know what they research(ed)?
Laura Sotillos ElliottPublished 5 years ago in VivaI'm Tired and Angry
Capitalism and patriarchy played, and still play, a major role in sex inequality. However, some Marxists would argue that patriarchy, the unequal power relationship between men and women, has been around long before capitalism. Therefore, how could capitalism play a role? Easy, capitalism is controlled by private owners for profit instead of the sate. Which means, like capitalism’s private owners, the men of high stature in a patriarchal society are the “controllers” of the inequalities happening between the sexes. As these men continue to obtain power, the inequalities between females and males continue to grow, as do the generations to fuel capitalism. Socialist-feminist theorists say that patriarchy reenforces the idea that women are to be housewives and mothers, while capitalism reenforces the idea that men are to be the breadwinners of their families. They say, the division of labor, as it were, brings the private-domestic, and public-economic spheres into contact.
Taylor KellyPublished 5 years ago in VivaMargaret Thatcher’s Girl Power: She Did It!
The role of women in history is huge. Being forced to fight for their rights, they have reached stunning success in all fields and proved that they are not the weaker sex. Committed, hard-working, goal-oriented, and extremely strong women have made a huge impact on the development and formation of the word. But who has left the greatest mark on history? However, if you asked about a single most influential women of the 20th century, we would point to Margaret Thatcher without any hesitation, as she has changed the course of history once and forever.
Jilian WoodsPublished 5 years ago in Viva