Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
#MeToo Is About You, Too
There were times in the past that I was sympathetic to the cries of “Not All Men,” but after a while I’d seen and heard enough to feel like it actually was All Men. It wasn’t in overt harassment, or openly sexist comments, but the accumulation of so many little things, the “microaggressions.” But after a while of putting up with the stereotypes, assumptions, and being treated as “less than,” they started to feel a lot like the regular old macroaggressions. It was everywhere. And worse, when confronted with information that suggested they—gasp!—might be in the wrong, the Not All Men were deeply offended and incredulous that we could possibly have interpreted their innocent behaviour as sexism. Just like the person who thinks it’s worse to be accused of racism that it is to actually be racist, we end up in a never-ending cycle of complaining and then having to deal with the tantrums and denial caused by the complaint. Well #MeToo has given us the opportunity to say “No More.”
Katy PreenPublished 6 years ago in VivaDeadliest Female Assassins in World History
The most horrific, disgusting, terrifying, and evil women in world history. As hard as it is to wrap your head around, these female assassins' stories are very real and very appalling to learn.
Kelsey LangePublished 6 years ago in VivaWhy Being a Man Is Not an Excuse Anymore
I recently read Andrew Sullivan’s article for NY Mag entitled, “#MeToo and the Taboo Topic of Nature” and I have to say, I’m more than a little pissed. I found this article after reading an incredible piece by Lili Loofbourow reacting to this inane “men will be men because it’s in their nature to be aggressive” column coming from Sullivan.
Lizzie KreitmanPublished 6 years ago in VivaLiving With Body Dysmorphia
Like many children, I started out skinny. Looking back at pictures of when I was a little girl, I had the cute belly and always ran around without a shirt. I was a daddy's girl and just wore shorts like he did. My mom was always on top of staying in shape. She had a whole routine where she'd excerise in front of the television. I used to mock her because some of her exercising were yoga poses.
Clara Bow: Writing the Wrongs
Movie buffs, researchers, Hollywood enthusiasts, "flapper/Gatsby" bloggers and fashionistas may or may not have heard of the "IT" girl Clara Bow. Who, in the 1920s, breathed life into Elinor Glyn's ideology of the "IT" factor, aka a sex appeal. An attraction that apparently drew both sexes to a particular person. A magnetic draw, a sense of presence that only the subject who harbored it was/is blissfully unaware of. Most who do know of her may lay claim that Clara was an unintelligent girl from Brooklyn who stumbled through Hollywood, hopping from one bed to the other. From bedding her own dogs, to taking on the entire USC University football team—
6 Upcoming Trends for 2018
Last year of 2017 was filled with many unique and interesting trends such as the iconic fidget spinner, glossy lids and lips, squiggly eyebrows, 80s vintage vibes throwing itself forward, and the revolution of activated charcoal. It's up for debate whether 2017 was a year filled with positivity and useful items or if it was just a complete waste of a year, but that's where 2018 comes in! The anticipation for new trends are flooding the gates of society and here is a list of six trends for this year that will keep you ahead of the game.
Rae HizzlePublished 6 years ago in Viva"I Don’t Believe I Deserve Equal Pay to Chris and Dave": Amy Schumer Clarifies the Drama Surrounding Her Netflix Deal
Many held their own opinions regarding the recent claim that comedian #AmySchumer demanded more money from #Netflix after earning about the pay disparity between herself and comedy veterans Chris Rock & Dave Chappelle. Both Rock and Chappelle wanted $20 million for their respective specials, while Schumer was initially paid $11 million for The Leather Special. The claim made it seem as if the relatively new comedian believed she deserved the equal pay as two hardened comedians with decades of stand-up comedy experience under their belt, which didn't sit well with certain twitter users who believed the gap was a matter of experience. Others stated that one can't "come back for more money because the guy down the road made more."
Ghezal AmiriPublished 6 years ago in VivaWhy Must We Be Kind to Creepy Men Just to Feel Safe?
It's the late afternoon, and you've just finished up at the office for the day. You're heading to the subway to catch the train home, picking a seat that tucks you away for the half hour it takes to get to your stop. With a sigh, you pull a book out of your bag and start to read. Your attention is pulled away from your book when you sense that someone is talking to you. A "friendly" man has just made a comment about your legs (wrapped in jeans and tucked into black polka dotted rain boots), mentions he's seen you on the train before and asks if you have a boyfriend. He has one hand in his pants and he smells like the tuna sandwich science project you found in the office refrigerator two days ago, but three of them, stacked on top of one another and jammed crazy far up your nostrils. You don't want to be rude, so you take a moment to consider your options before offering it to him. You feel a huge wave of relief when you realize he's heard you wrong. Other commuters give you quick-but-awkward sideways glances, the looks on their faces clearly glad that they chose not to sit where you're sitting right now. By the time you get home, you've already considered three alternate routes home from the office for the rest of the week.
Delilah JaydePublished 6 years ago in VivaFailed By the System
I was sexually abused by somebody I believed to be my friend. I was motionless at the time, shocked to again believe that this would happen to me, this is only the kind of stuff you read about it. But it happened to me.
I’m Not Perfect, According to the Media...
Every step you take determines who you are. Society tries to pressure us to fit inside the social “norm” and aspire to be more like what we see in the news. I know, I know, it seems as if everybody nowadays makes the statement about the one body size that is shown in the media. However, I’m here to show the other side of the story. People always talk about the hourglass figure that is displayed in the media and how larger people need to be shown too, but rarely does someone discuss the other extreme on the spectrum, the skinny.
Lily PenshawPublished 6 years ago in VivaHow to Be a Baddie (Series)
Baddies: what are they exactly? Well, there is no Oxford Dictionary term for these kinds of people exactly. However, many hours on Instagram and Pinterest have basically given me answer: a baddie is a girl with an amazing body, glamorous wardrobe, and no-nonsense attitude. They’re the girls on Instagram who post themselves lip-syncing to Drake on their profile story. The girl who takes cute mirror selfies with their iPhone X in their Nike Airs. The curvy girl at the gym with the 20-odd inch waist and round butt. You are most likely familiar with them, whether you follow them yourself or they showed up on explore page at some point. I can also guarantee that you’ve probably thought these things when seeing them as well: “Wow, she’s cute. I wish I could afford that phone,” “OMG, I LOVE her makeup! Wish I was that good at doing my own eyebrows,” “Look at her body! If only mine looked like that.”
Sanaa DowdPublished 6 years ago in VivaDr. Frances-White: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Feminists
The final removal of the gold painted veneer from the rusted, pervert behemoth of Hollywood is a good thing for everyone. However, the path forward is not all crystal-clear waters and plain sailing.
Matt RichardsPublished 6 years ago in Viva