Top Stories
Stories in Viva that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
The Pain of Being an Elite Athlete and a Woman.
I like to think of myself as a fairly optimistic and strong-willed person, but I have days of sadness, stress, and pain, just like everyone else. Behind the positive quotes, affirmations, and meditations lies a girl just trying to do her best. I write this with welled-up eyes and a deep tightness in my chest because as I train for my second Olympic Games during a worldwide pandemic, I feel like I'm about to break.
Elizabeth CuiPublished 4 months ago in VivaWe Need To Redefine The Term 'Ladylike'
How we dress says everything about us. It's the first introduction we give out without actually introducing ourselves; people's first perception of us. I've lost count of the amount of times I've been told I'm "unladylike" because of my oversized, boyish clothing. "Why don't you wear tighter-fitting clothing and show off your body? That's not ladylike."
Jesse BixbyPublished 4 months ago in VivaThis could save your life
I'm 27 as I write this, 19 when it happened. I composed this piece in an effort to help other women understand potential human trafficking tactics and/or potential kidnapping scenarios. I share this because while it happened nearly 10 years ago, it wasn't until this year (2021) that I realized the tremendous danger I could have found myself in had things ended differently.
Lexie RobbinsPublished 4 months ago in Viva
Perfect Foundation vs The History of Mexico
My skin is the color of Mexican nationalism. I am a product of (at least) Indigenous and Spanish roots on both sides of my family, from Northern and Southern Mexico, from flour and corn tortillas. Mexico was one of the first colonized countries that advocated for miscegenation, because it would “whiten” the entire country, and the mixed race people could be known as La Raza, as foretold and advocated by José Vasconcelos. I grew up saying “Para La Raza!” (for the race) without knowing the originally racist implications - now I say “para la gente!” (for the people). Because being Latinx is an ethnicity and not a race, then people of many races are Latinx. You don’t even have to speak Spanish to be Latinx, as Brazil and Haiti are Latin American countries. However, having been raised in the Southwestern US, I grew up with the understanding that I looked like the stereotypical Latina. I’m brown with brown eyes, black hair, and short with a round face, and when I talk quickly or with strong emotion, my Chicana accent comes out. Now, I know that not all Latinx people have to look or be like me, even other Mexicans don’t look like me, since I have been trying to surpass the anti-Blackness and anti-Indigeneity taught in Mexican culture.
Ariana GonBonPublished 4 months ago in Viva
Short Film Reviews: Women's History Month
Since #MeToo went viral in 2017 (eleven years after activist Tarana Burke founded the movement), it can't be denied that it brought massive changes to the entertainment industry and society as a whole. Serial sex predators were exposed, abuses of power against women were brought to light, and a culture of sexism that was once tolerated and accepted was called out for what it was. And while there's still plenty of work to be done, society has definitely made great strides toward gender equality in the past years. So in celebration of Women's History Month, I'll be taking a look at a few short films created by female filmmakers. With an evenly split selection of films from Short of the Week and Omeleto (my go-to sources for short films), let's begin!
Trevor WellsPublished 5 months ago in VivaPlease, Just Stop Ogling at My Breasts
My complicated relationship with my breasts started in the sixth grade. They started developing two years prior, but it was at this time when I truly began to notice the attention they gave me. I hated having large breasts. Whenever a friend commented how large they were, I would grow defensive and say they were indeed not big. In hindsight, this seems ridiculous, but most of my peers had small ones, and I, like many preteens, was not one to be the odd one out.
Shelby BrenglePublished 5 months ago in Viva
It might not be all men, but it is all women
Over the last 10 days every woman I know has had a conversation about the heartbreaking disappearance and subsequent alleged murder of 33-year-old Marketing Executive, Sarah Everard.
Official Millennial Black: Inspiring a Generation
Coming off the magical heels of Black History Month and in the effervescent throes of Women’s History Month, while we should always be sharing and celebrating these stories, what better time than now to continue highlighting strong, powerful, creative black women who continue shattering the glass ceiling in business, revolutionizing the media sphere, and inspiring this generation and beyond.
Sadie KaminskyPublished 5 months ago in Viva
Zero Waste Menstrual Products: A Review
Menstruation: kind of an icky topic that nobody likes discussing. But we need to talk about it. Every year, womyn in America spend upwards of $275 million on menstrual products alone (4). That's the same amount that Mike Bloomberg put into a digital advertising campaign to target Trump, or the amount Louisiana legislators are investing into a stimulus program meant to help small-business owners with COVID-19-related expenses. That's a ridiculous amount of money and it's paid out Every. Single. Year.
Alana BoylesPublished 5 months ago in Viva
The Enlightened Woman
Over the last year, I've been upgrading some high school courses in order to bolster my university applications (29 year old, going to post-secondary for the first time here! Woohoo!). One of the courses I'm taking is World History, which has been extremely insightful considering the global events that have transpired since March 2020. Recently, I had the opportunity to select a topic of my choice for an essay. There was a list of suggestions I could pick from, or I could present an idea of my own. On the list I saw two intriguing topics right next to each-other:
Samantha KaszasPublished 5 months ago in Viva
The Girl Power Tattoo
I don't look like a girl with tattoos. I mean, it's not like there's a type but if there was it wouldn't be me. When I was a kid I never liked the idea of them. When I was a teenager some of my friends (with the permission of their cool parents) got them. Still, the thought of putting something eternal on my body was never appealing to me.
Martyna DearingPublished 5 months ago in Viva
What Do Booze & Washing Machines Have In Common?
Many of us learned in school about the 19th Amendment, which was passed in 1920 and gave women the right to vote across America. We also learned about the 18th Amendment, ratified in 1919, outlawing alcohol and ushering in an era known as “Prohibition.” And, we all learned about the Second Industrial Revolution, which also began in the early 1900s and was characterized by railroads, steel production, manufacturing and machinery, and electricity.
Lacey DoddrowPublished 5 months ago in Viva
