body

Feminism demands a future free of fat shaming, body obsession and the male gaze.

I Think You're Fat... I Can't Date You
Everyone has a type. It’s normal to be attracted to different body types, different colored hair and so on. But when does it go from “you are not my type” to a completely rude and bully-like statement? How many of us have experienced shaming only because of the sole appearance of, well, YOU.
By Dasha Ilazarova9 years ago in Viva
Learning To Love Yourself: Part 1
"Your body is a wonderland." Great words spoken by none other than John Mayer, a man with a "normal" or "perfect body", but little did he know my body wasn't a wonderland. My body was ugly, messy, and dysfunctional.
By Grace Xtra9 years ago in Viva
Stretch Marks and Stigma
Body positivity: A foreign concept to most. Looking in the mirror and analysing every feature of your body, reciting words of others repeatedly around in your head until they eventually become a part of you, chipping away at your mind. It's a sad fact that anxiety surrounding body image has significantly increased in the 21st century, with social media constantly defining beauty standards.
By Katie 9 years ago in Viva
Fat Girl Vs. Beautiful Girl
Being fat — No... having fat makes you "fat" and therefore I am a "fat girl" and have been all my life — or so I was told. It's not as much fun being the "big girl" as it is being the "big guy," for one is a compliment while to the other is considered "polite." This is a prose poem about Fat Girl.
By Jennifer R9 years ago in Viva
Should You Get a Breast Reduction?
For years I suffered from horrible upper back pain and lower back pain as well. My breast reduction was the best choice I have ever made in my life.
By Annisa Love9 years ago in Viva
Why Shouldn't I Be Confident?
Being a woman is hard. They want us to be thin, then they want us to be thick. And sometimes, both at the same time. This is an everyday struggle that we all face.
By Mikaela Ball9 years ago in Viva
The Betrayal of Myself—My Miscarriage Experience
Can you be betrayed by your own body, if it is an intrinsic part of you? Can you personify a part of you to the point of alienation, enough so that it can endure your suffering for you? Suffering so deep to justify the segregation?
By EP Jenkins9 years ago in Viva
How I Made Myself Feel Better About My Body
I never thought that I would get this far. I had no future plans. I really thought that by the age of 16 I would kill myself. Here I am today now 21. I still struggle with things but I'm not as bad as I use to be. For the record the picture featured is not mine. I don't own it.
By Jess Perry9 years ago in Viva
How I Dealt with Repetitive Sexual Assault
In today's world, most women are afraid to tell their sexual assault stories. For some, they have kept themselves in silence for so long, why would they talk now? For others, they fear the disbelief, or that others will blame them. A small percentage will say it's because of the celebrity misconduct happening, which is paired with the fear of disbelief.
By Megayn Fall9 years ago in Viva
Body Positive
I was told as a child your body is your temple, ever heard that saying before? But what I wasn’t told was not all bodies were accepted and celebrated in society or on social media. I was never told that even though it is beautiful that women's bodies come in different shapes and sizes… not all shapes are acceptable.
By Patrice Boothe9 years ago in Viva
A Love Letter to My Body After 3 Kids
I'm only 28, yet my belly is not as tight as it used to be. My breasts don't sit quite as high, and, if we're being honest, are not even close to being the same size. My nails are more brittle, and I'm starting to see laugh lines appear by my eyes.
By Letitia Lou9 years ago in Viva
"Girl Problems"
We all have them. Girl problems. In some way shape or form everyone has got at least one girl problem. Even boys. But the kind of girl problems I'm gonna talk about today though are the ones that only girls can have. And if you're easily grossed out or faint hearted, here's your chance to escape this article unscathed. Proceed with caution! Also sex is mentioned in this article, if you are innocent-eyed and minded—please press the back button before I get in trouble with your parents.Periods are typically uncomfortable, messy, smelly, and sometimes painful. For women with hormonal imbalances that cause problems with it, periods can be even worse. And it makes it hard to tell when there could actually be a problem because every woman is different—so that means... every woman's period is different.
By Hope Martin9 years ago in Viva