relationships
Trace the link between feminism and relationships from outdated norms to modern conventions including chivalry, working mothers, splitting the bill and beyond.
Not Anymore...
I can't do this anymore. You take, and you take until there is nothing left of me to give. I hate this! I hate this! I hate that we reached a point where I can't breathe, I hate how I feel when I'm with you, and I hate who I am. If I'm honest, and I need to be honest, I haven't felt like me in so long. Every concern I bring you, you have a counter to it, and you make it sound so good at the time. You make it sound like it's me. I'm making too much out of this; it's not that big of a deal; your feelings count too,... can I be honest? I'm hearing less and less of me. I'm feeling less and less like me. There is this dark cloud in my home that wasn't there before. I never know what mood I'm going to get from one minute to the next. I'm walking on eggshells again. Wait, stop...this feels too familiar. I'm getting triggered on a daily and so is my daughter. Why? Because you feel familiar with something I've been through before, something and someone I swore I'd never go through or put my kids through again. I'm anxious, I'm jittery, I'm sick to my stomach all the time, I'm having headaches, my ears are ringing... "I can hear you spirit guides. I know I need to listen." You try to control me; you don't want me wearing certain things; you don't want me on my phone too much; you act as if you need to be with me all the time, even in the shower. I get no privacy, no room to breathe. I feel like even going to the doctor alone is a privilege now. I have tried to be understanding of your triggers, your trauma, but what I have to do is keep you stable, which isn't even really helping because you're still mad, you're still upset. What I'm doing, I realize, is actually shrinking myself to help you be big and take control of me, so your own insecurities feel better. Why do I have to shrink to make you feel better? You know what? I'm done! That's right. I can't watch my child cry because she doesn't want to go home to you, and I can't cry myself to sleep another night because I'm slowly dying. I promised myself I wouldn't let this happen again damnit! This will not happen! Burn it all down! Don't touch me! I'm done with my body, my feelings, my emotions, all being used to disarm a man's small mind and small dick! I am my own person, and I am whole without anyone. I know this, but for some reason, I forget. Be it trauma, ptsd, lies I've been told, and have come to believe, but I am done! Sisters, we need to gather together and get angry! Realize your worth! You are worth more than some man's ego. We are women. We give birth, we can tolerate more pain than any man, we calm the storms and the babies at night, we keep the peace, we can have 50 things on our plates, and yet we still get up and continue with the day. Why? Because we have a resilience that the Creator and Mother Nature instilled in us at the beginning of time. We can move mountains! Don't you dare let him bring you down! Don't burn with him; too many people have tried to burn our flames for centuries. Do not be his shadow. Don't dull yourself down. Shine bright and don't be afraid to do so, be happy. Choose you. Love doesn't always mean with a partner. Love can be with yourself, your pets, your children, nature, etc. Please realize this and burn anything down that's getting in the way of that!
By Lindsey Altom5 months ago in Viva
The Teardrop Revolution: Why the Pear Silhouette is the Most Poetic Choice for 2026 Brides
The choices we make in bridal fashion are rarely just about aesthetics. They are silent declarations of our personality, our values, and how we view our place in the world. For years, the mainstream market leaned heavily toward the absolute symmetry of round and square cuts. Yet, as we move through 2026, there is a powerful shift happening across the United Kingdom. Women are embracing asymmetry, organic forms, and designs that feel closer to art than ordinary jewellery. This cultural renaissance has brought pear engagement rings back into the spotlight, establishing the teardrop silhouette as the definitive choice for the modern, independent bride.
By Mohd Kaish5 months ago in Viva
The Soft Edge of Luxury: Why the Oval Silhouette is Dominating 2026 Bridal Style
The landscape of bridal fashion has always been a mirror to cultural shifts. For a long time, the industry was dominated by the sharp, unapologetic angles of square and princess cuts—shapes that felt architectural, modern, and rigid. However, as we progress through 2026, there is a visible softening in the global style aesthetic. From the fluid fabrics dominating the runways of London Fashion Week to the organic textures in interior design, we are craving soft lines, curves, and fluid elegance. This cultural evolution has placed oval engagement rings at the very top of the hierarchy for the modern British bride.
By Mohd Kaish5 months ago in Viva
The Five-Second Upgrade: Why a Simple Pair of Studs is the Ultimate Wardrobe Anchor
In the chaotic, fast-paced world of modern fashion, our wardrobes are constantly subjected to a barrage of shifting trends. One season we are told to embrace massive, statement-making chokers; the next, we are steered toward eclectic, bohemian beads. Yet, as we navigate through 2026, a collective exhaustion has set in. The modern British woman is quietly turning away from the noise of "disposable fashion" and looking back toward pieces that offer genuine utility, timeless elegance, and effortless sophistication. In this quest for a streamlined, high-quality capsule wardrobe, nothing stands more resilient than a classic pair of diamond stud earrings.
By Mohd Kaish5 months ago in Viva
A Hopeless Romantic's Guide to Decentering Men. ✨
De-centering men was my greatest act of self love. ~ unknown author. Women are taught, either inherently or intentionally, to center men from the day we are born. Even the birthing process itself can be considered male-centric, if you get the wrong doctor or practice. My mother tells the story of a traumatic birth when she had me: of a brusk, impatient male doctor, of requests falling on deaf ears, of an emotionally absent male partner.
By Alys Revna5 months ago in Viva
She Who is Relaxed, is Free.
“Growing up, I never knew a relaxed woman. Successful women? Yes. Productive women? Plenty. Anxious and afraid and apologetic women? Heaps of them. But relaxed women? At-ease women? Women who don't dissect their days into half hour slots of productivity? Women who prioritize rest, pleasure, and play? Women who aren't afraid to take up space in the world? Women who give themselves unconditional permission to relax? Without guilt? Without apology? Without feeling like they need to earn it? I'm not sure I've ever met a woman like that. But I would like to become one.”
By Alys Revna6 months ago in Viva
The Evolution of Sparkle: Why the Tennis Bracelet is the Ultimate Wardrobe Essential
In the high-stakes world of fine jewellery, few pieces carry a story as charismatic as the diamond line bracelet. For decades, it was a staple of formal galas and evening soirées, but everything changed during a high-profile tennis match in the late 1980s. When a world-class player paused a professional game to retrieve her snapped diamond bracelet, a fashion icon was born. Today, as we move through 2026, tennis bracelets have transcended their athletic origins to become the single most versatile accessory in a modern woman’s collection.
By Mohd Kaish6 months ago in Viva
