Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
Women Need to Cover Up
We all hear the sentence and we have heard it over and over again, "women should not breastfeed in public" or "women need to be more decent." My personal favorite and laughable opinion: "Women should feed their babies in a more private place, like for instance, in a bathroom."
Asking for a Raise as the Only Woman in the Room
Imagine this: you have been working at your place of employment for years, and have done all tasks within your job description, as well as been asked to do a number of tasks outside of your job description. Managers and coworkers alike have all grown to trust and rely upon you to get the tasks they couldn't take care of completed. You are highly respected and appreciated. It took a lot of work to get to this point, and everyone knows it.
Jackie BarrowsPublished 5 years ago in Viva'Baby It's Cold Outside' Becomes Hot Topic in #MeToo Era
"Baby It's Cold Outside" has, thanks to #Glee (and #ErinDavis and #MikeCooper from 98.1 #CHFI in #Toronto), become one of my favorite #Christmas songs of all time. Before I talk about the lyrics, I just have to say that #ChrisColfer and #DarrenCriss looked like they were having a terrific time singing what had been until that point a duet between a man and a woman, and when I heard Davis and Cooper's version on CHFI, it struck me that these two cohosts and friends were having a ball singing it.
Christina St-JeanPublished 5 years ago in VivaI Wanted to Leave
The worst part is that I wanted to leave. I planned on leaving, I had it all set up, I was going to get out. Start again, have someone I could really rely on. Instead, I got pregnant…. Whoops. Just one too many drinks that night got me in bed with him. Weird because I never slept with him anymore. Didn’t want too, why would I want too? The way he treated me? No one would want too.
How to React When Your Doctor Refuses to Sterilize You
Of the women who use contraception, 20 percent of them choose sterilization over any other birth control option. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in 2017 estimates that sterilization is the second most popular form of contraception. With all that being said, it is not uncommon for women to get denied this option. It’s not unheard for doctors to tell women that they will regret their decision of permanent sterilization, and refuse the procedure. Imagine yourself in this scenario. How are you supposed to react when a doctor refuses to sterilize you?
Jules FortmanPublished 5 years ago in Viva10 Misogynist Sites You Need to Know
Welcome to the “manosphere,” the man cave of the internet, where men engage in online communities, converse in forums and publish articles to share their take on anti-feminist beliefs. The men who participate in these groups often label themselves as the victim and charge women as the enemy. A popular example includes men who identify as involuntary celibates (incels), “red pillers” and pick up artists. Incels angrily blame women for not wanting to engage in intimate relationships with them and consider their denial to be an act of crime. It’s a flawed perception as these men feel it is a woman’s responsibility to cater to their desires. Belief systems like these make up the core of misogynist online groups that in turn lead to violent acts—such as Elliot Rodger who killed six people at Isla Vista before killing himself. Cyberspace is fertile ground when it comes to starting a movement and we must use it for good. Following the crimes committed by Rodger, additional online groups and misogynist sites have continued to pop up glorifying his acts, demeaning women, and spreading hatred against women in general.
Michelle EstevezPublished 5 years ago in VivaSigns You're Dealing with Internalized Misogyny
Women all over the world are dealing with internalized misogyny that puts them in opposition with other women and themselves. Some of them think less of women as a whole and place their faith in the opinions of men. Others have been raised to believe that men are superior and women are inferior. Women receive misogynistic messages from all fronts, so battling against it is constant. The fight never ends. You can excise your misogyny, but first, you have to admit that you have it so that you can pinpoint the toxic behaviors and belief systems that created it in the first place.
Patty RamsenPublished 5 years ago in Viva'Shrinking Women'
This particular video really spoke to me on multiple levels. In order to fully unpack the meaning of this video, and to not do a disservice to the woman who wrote it, I feel the need to discuss it with respect to both the literal and figurative meanings behind this video and connect it to my experiences.
Loving Yourself Isn’t as Easy as They Say It Is
Park Nicollet released a report with some staggering statistics about body image in young women including: 53 percent of 13-year-old American girls are unhappy with their bodies. This number grows to 78 percent by the time girls reach 17. 46 percent of 9-11 year olds are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets, 82 percent of their families are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets. Over 50 percent of teen girls and 30 percent of teen boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives.
Makayla RichardsPublished 5 years ago in VivaMy First Pap Smear Test
I'm now 25, which means that in the UK I have to go and get my first smear test done. I'd been putting it off for six months, despite the scare-mongering leaflets in the post and the fact that I really knew I should go.
Being a Young Woman in America
Being a woman in today's society means... Avoiding going out at night Always looking over your shoulder when you walk alone Walking in a group because it is safer that way Bundling yourself in as many layers as you can in hopes no one sexualizes you Being scared to go anywhere at night for fear of being harassed or harmed Being the butt end of jokes from men Being shamed for coming forward with harrowing tales of assault and harassment Feeling like you have to explain every decision you make Making less than a man for the same work Looking to an unrealistic image of beauty and perfection and being expected to live up to it Knowing you will be made inferior frequently throughout your life Being told that your only purpose in life is to marry, have children, and please your partner Knowing that no matter what you do, someone is going to think you’re not good enough or you’re not trying hard enough Walking with your keys in your hand as a weapon in case things go bad Checking your backseat and locking your doors the second you get into a car Double and triple checking the locks in your home for fear of an intruder Being quieted when all you want to do is speak out Seeing stories like Mollie Tibbets and being scared to do the things you love to do Feeling like you must always live up to this unachievable standard set by a patriarchal society Having men make decisions about your health and well-being
Makayla RichardsPublished 5 years ago in VivaI Can't Even Do My Laundry
I'm quite certain you don't know what happened. Not many men go around bragging about assaulting women. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he told you about me. When I left your apartment, he had no fear. He even told me to come back.
Laura BrunsPublished 5 years ago in Viva