body
Feminism demands a future free of fat shaming, body obsession and the male gaze.
To Filmmakers That Make Rape Scenes
I know what you’re thinking; you’ve heard all of this before. You’ve already been contacted by plenty of other rape survivors who’ve told you how you triggered them with that graphic scene. You’ve heard hundreds, maybe even thousands of times how you made other women burst into tears and have to leave the theater, or even triggered panic attacks by making such a realistic rape scene. Maybe some of you have openly apologized to anyone that you offended with that scene. Or maybe, instead, you’ve decided to stand by and defend the scene, saying that violence is shown in movies all the time, and that you wanted to accurately show the horror of the crime.
By Elizabeth Brandon6 years ago in Viva
My Body and I
Being a larger female I have always struggled with self acceptance and learning to love myself. I find everyday I am in a constant battle with what to wear. What will look good and what I feel comfortable in. Most the time it’s black leggings and a larger t-shirt and my vans.
By Maddie Skelton6 years ago in Viva
Will Beauty Save the World?
I spent the last decade working in the fashion industry as a model. And yet, I struggle to answer what exactly is beauty. Mainly because to me it is less and less about the physical as the time goes by. Yet as I try to explain this, not many will listen. Hardly surprising, since we are bombarded daily with the images of what is considered beautiful. Big eyes, full lips, smal nose, pronounced cheekbones, slim waist, long legs - the list goes on. Barbie doll comes to mind- beautiful, but not real.
By Eva Smitte6 years ago in Viva
The Alchemy of PMDD
I was very inspired by a post I spotted recently on the Gia Allemand Foundation's Facebook page. A woman posted the question, "I'm wondering if anyone has found any beautiful things coming out of their PMDD experiences?" She went on to share how she was actively practicing gratitude when things were at their worst, and that this practice was giving her courage...
By Cheeky Minx6 years ago in Viva
Modern Birth.....Is This the New Dark Age?
Last night I was sitting at a table with 12 women from all walks of life, just getting together for a monthly night out away from our spouses and children. Someone at the table had announced that she was expecting her first. Out came the hugs and congrats as this new mom to be shared this extremely exciting news. Following that came the birth stories, the what to expect, advice, and so on. As I was sitting there listening and sharing my own story I noticed that over two thirds of the women there had had a c-section or multiple c-sections. Most of them explained afterwards that they were told it was an emergency situation but in the end it did not have to be done at all. It made me really ponder my own journey of birth and sense of sadness crept over me.
By Megan Aylward6 years ago in Viva
"I Cured My PMDD"
I've been wanting to write this piece for some time, but I haven't been quite sure how to approach it. It's a sensitive thing. But I think it needs to be said, so here goes. There is a tendency in our community (that being women with PMDD) to get very...perhaps overly...enthusiastic about our discoveries.
By Cheeky Minx6 years ago in Viva
L.O.V.E. Your Body, Love Yourself
FEBRUARY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO L.O.V.E. OUR BODIES??? In a culture full of whos and whats we should look and feel like around every corner, life can get pretty confusing, particularly about our health and our bodies. Eating disorders of all kinds are at an all-time high in our world right now, not only including the USA. We have to learn how to look at all the fake imagery sent our way out there and filter through what is realistic and what is truly beautiful. Growing up, I was always a bit bigger than my friends around me; not a big girl, just a bigger size, bigger bones, more of a muscular build. I always felt self conscious... now a mom and (let's not sugar coat it) struggling with truly being overweight, I wish I could go back to my teenage self and say, "STOP! Look at yourself! You are the most beautiful and thin and in shape you will ever be, so enjoy it and put on those damn short shorts and strut! So what if you are a size 7 and she is a size 2!" But looking back, I just always thought I could be skinnier, prettier, more blonde, more brunette, more this or that... How much time I wasted thinking such negative thoughts about myself. Well, no more. Yes I am struggling with weight and body image now as a new mom and as someone who has a thyroid condition and let's face it — as someone who just loves to sit her buns on the couch and watch Netflix with whatever free time I can get nowadays. But here is a new campaign I am starting myself on. I am calling it L.O.V.E. your body. I truly hope all you gorgeous people out there can join me in uplifting yourself to a new healthy standard of what true beauty is.
By Courtney Maurer6 years ago in Viva
Curvy Girl Gives the Perfect Response to a Body-Shamer About How There's No Way She Could Be With Mr. 6-Pack
I mean, look at her. That's paradise. Call me crazy. However, I'd be one to say that any woman, regardless of body type is indeed paradise, but you have to admit: the more of that paradise, the better.
By Pierre Roustan, Author of THE CAIN LETTERS and SCARY HORROR STUFF!6 years ago in Viva
How My Body Shamers Got Me to Shame Myself
So where do I begin? Where do I even begin to start when I have endured over ten years of cruel and mean insults? Insulted, "joked" toward and beaten up emotionally about my body. How do I even begin to address these people? Well here goes nothing, let me tell you how I felt.
By Alexis Quintana6 years ago in Viva