Body Talk
Your body, your choice? A place to debate and discuss the complexities and controversies surrounding women's' health issues, reproductive rights, and bodily autonomy.
How Do Birth Control Pills Work?
If you're new to learning everything about birth control pills, hello and welcome. You're probably on the journey to have an infinite amount of sex without the risk of getting pregnant from your rowdy nights. You're just like every other girl who's in the same position as you — wanting sex but minus the baby.
Rachel BlanchardPublished 6 years ago in VivaBody Pos 101
In recent times we see body pos everywhere! This is a huge leap for our society. If you want to believe it or not, our world is coming around slowly to the idea that not every woman needs to look like the “typical model.” Sure, there are still trolls out there that will never agree that a woman over 140lbs can be beautiful, healthy, and a free to wear whatever they want. But I’m not here to pay attention to negative trolls; I’m here to shed light on the constant battle women young and old (men too) deal with daily and how we, as women, can turn our insecurities into the armor we wear every day to face the world. Obviously I am going to speak from a young woman’s perspective, but I encourage you, even if you’re not a “young woman,” read on, and maybe you can get a new take on body positivity through my eyes!
Thrifty, Curvy, & ThrivingPublished 6 years ago in VivaThe Events Following My Rape
The numbness was snatched away when the doctor inserted this plastic instrument inside of me. I tried not to yell, attempted not to complain at the first sign of pain but all of a sudden I felt like a monster was inside of me and it just kept getting deeper and deeper inside of me. All of a sudden all I felt was pain all I saw was red. All of a sudden I felt like he was inside of me again. I felt like I was being raped all over again. All around me, a bunch of strangers keep telling me to hush that it’ll be okay. But thats a lie, I know it will not be ok. In this exact moment I wanted my birth giver, the only person who could help soothe my soul but somewhere after the red wore off I remembered she’s dead. I called my aunt hoping she can provide some kind of solace for my already crippled psyche, along with my body. None is provided, kinda hard to reach out when my hands seem to be permanently glued to my sides. I don’t know how I cope. I just do, I push everything down until I am alone. Until it all comes vomiting back up, I wanna scream. I wish I didn’t tell the people I care about the most because I feel like they don’t look at me the same anymore b/c they don’t. I don’t want to silently suffer but I know no other way. Every time before this, my feelings were disregarded not by the people who care about me the most but by the people who were supposed to care about me the most but didn’t. Or couldn’t or whatever excuse we’re making for them today. I cried in the shower today because I tried to talk to God, and he didn’t talk back. Or maybe I couldn’t hear him over all the sobbing, I turned the lights off for my shower today b/c it seemed easier. Today I saw red and swallowed shattered brokenness. Today I took 8 different pills to prevent pain, pregnancy, and infection. Today loving the world was as hard as loving myself. And I don’t feel strong enough for either.
Ann JacksonPublished 6 years ago in VivaLearning to Love Your Body
Between media messages and social pressures, it can often be hard to love your body. Sometimes self-love and confidence can even be shamed as vanity and narcissism. But none of that should stop you from rocking who you are and loving every second of it! You are an attractive and lovable being. These five tips will get you on the path to loving your body and learning to respect yourself as you are.
Alina GallupePublished 6 years ago in Viva- Top Story - October 2017
Do You Want to Know a Secret?
I have a secret. It could be argued that keeping this secret makes me a bit of a hypocrite. For all my body positivity, there is one thing about myself that I cannot learn to love: my facial hair.
Then and Now: Have We Changed Our Portrayal of Women in the Media?
Our portrayal of women in advertising has been under scrutiny since about the 90s. Has this scrutiny changed the way we view and portray women? The role of women in society certainly has. Looking at two ads from Cosmopolitan, one from 1997 and one from 2017, we may be able to divulge the answer. The first ad from 1997 displays a grungy, seductive temptress wearing “under the covers colors,” while the second from 2017 shows the typical girl-next-door wearing trendy makeup and clothing that sexualizes her more subtly.
Living with Endometriosis
For anyone who doesn't know what endometriosis is, let me explain. Endometriosis is a disease that effects 11% of women in the world. It can be a mildly painful to an extremely painful disorder. Having it means the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside your uterus; it can grow on your other organs as well. There is no cure for it! Endometriosis usually just affects your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining your pelvis. In some cases, it may spread beyond pelvic organs. The tissue that grows inside your uterus continues to act as it normally would; it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. But the tissue that grows outside has no way to exit your body. This causes it to become trapped. Endometriosis can involve the ovaries, causing cysts called endometriomas. Surrounding tissues become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue. That can cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick to each other.
shelby LynPublished 6 years ago in VivaWhat to Know Before Taking the Morning After Pill
Whether we like it or not, unprotected sex happens — and it often happens when parties involved are not ready to have a baby.
Mackenzie LuPublished 6 years ago in VivaWhy Plastic Surgery Can Be Feminist
I am non-binary and consider myself to be genderless. I refuse to wear skirts but love wearing my nails long, sharp, and polished. Most of the time, I like to bind my chest and/or hide my figure under baggy shirts. I'm also what one might consider a pretty staunch feminist, as well as a leftist extremist.
Skunk UzekiPublished 7 years ago in VivaDear My Body
Dear My Body, We shy away from the camera; we always have. We are like the Sasquatch — rare sightings on FB. I am not interested in what you look like. I don’t want to see. I don’t need to see. I prefer the role of the observer, not the observed.
Kat ThorsenPublished 7 years ago in Viva- Top Story - September 2017
Teal is For Real
So, this one is going to be shorter than my other articles, but since it is September I wanted to dedicate this article to the women in my family who have been affected by ovarian cancer, including my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother.
Tatiana ParkerPublished 7 years ago in Viva 22 Hygiene Products Every Woman Needs to Own
If there's one thing that I've realized over the years, it's that most people do not want to be around a person who smells foul. I know this, because I've seen what a lack of hygiene can do to one's popularity.
Lindsie PolhemusPublished 7 years ago in Viva