Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
My Fourteen-Year-Old Daughter Won't Wear a Bra
My mother took me shopping for a bra at the first indication that breasts were budding beneath my sweater. The fact that she noticed was embarrassing enough — I’m not sure how I made it through the actual shopping trip.
Alecia KennedyPublished 3 years ago in VivaResidents of India, the Caribbean, and American women celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris in unique ways
Vice President Kamala Harris is causing quite a stir around the world as she is being celebrated on 3 continents because of her historic victory. Harris was sworn in on Wednesday, January 2o, as the first woman, first African American, first African American female, first black woman from the Caribbean and the first Southeast Asian/Indian to hold the second-highest office in the land. The events of January 6, where Trump supporters stormed the White House did not dampen the mood for those who wanted to bask in this historic moment in time.
Cheryl E PrestonPublished 3 years ago in VivaI "KNOW" I Love Me Enough
I am slowly learning how to be "me" again in my new skin, that quite frankly is, amazing skin! It is skin that I had before and set it down awhile when I was told it was not that great.
Kim StambaughPublished 3 years ago in VivaMy Teenaged Daughter is Out All Night
“You gotta be careful. This ain’t Disneyland around here. There are some bad people who are just looking for a pretty little girl like you.”
Alecia KennedyPublished 3 years ago in VivaBeautiful Silence
As she laid there cold and numb fighting the moon to close her eyes. Feeling the hay, mold into her back, as she is thrusted up and down, not taking her eyes off the moon, in hopes the moon could save her or the tree, maybe one star, just one. Her eyes swelled up like fountains about to overflow, as the tears fell down the side of her face they left a cold trail to her ears and further down to her throat. She felt a piece of her soul breaking, spirit leaving. Her innocence ripped from her chest down to underwear. Not comprehending what was happening but very much felt the hate, the evil of what was being done to her. She could not fight it, the power of evil was far too great. So she chose the moon, glared at it as her memories of running through the fields and picking flowers faded, smelling vanilla through the house as her mom had a cake coming out of the oven, all the things that brought her joy emptied, her smile gone. The thrusting stops, she hears the barn door open and close. It's cold and wet between her legs as if she wet herself, she could not feel a thing she couldn't even move. She felt as if an elephant had been on her crushing her, leaving her there to die. Her heart is thumping out of her chest, her breathing is slowing down. She looks to the beautiful moon and the silent night sky, the stars become blurry as it all blends together and fills with darkness. She falls into a sleep.
I Miss Not Having Any Identity Other Than Someone's Wife and Mother
Life should be about perfection and not reflection. There always come points in our lives when we think what if we had not made that bad choice or if we should have gone with our instincts instead of listening to others. Many times throughout our lives, we wish we could have changed one thing which bothers us the most.
Richa KharePublished 3 years ago in VivaHow she saved me.
This story of my own personal experience is just that, personal. I am happy for my first time talking (or rather writing) about this is my first. And I am happy to be sharing my experience of one of the most kindest thing my mother did for me in my adulthood. Speaking from my own experience as a mother, when a mother bathes her child it is more than just a tub and some water. It is a ceremony of devotion and love. It is a form of therapy and a moment of peace. Filled with laughter and smiles and song, when a mother bathes her child it is the most precious thing in the world.
Danielle MetcalfePublished 3 years ago in VivaHow Asian Beauty & Fashion Influenced Western Culture
The word culture often evokes strong feelings of social integration, of learning, and of understanding other ways of life. In today’s society, what we consider stylish or attractive is evolving as the world around us becomes smaller. We all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what we class is beautiful is heavily influenced by culture. Youthfulness dominates American society, with natural skin, and fair skin, coveted in Europe and Asia, respectively.
Amy MercerPublished 3 years ago in Viva- Top Story - January 2021
How Harry Styles Subverted the Patriarchy by Wearing a Dress on the Cover of Vogue
On November 13, 2020, Harry Styles appeared on the cover of Vogue Magazine wearing a dress. It wasn’t an understated dress either, but rather one with frills and a low neckline. And this wasn’t the only picture in the spread where he donned feminine clothing. In four other portraits, Styles sported skirts. These feminine stylistic choices weren’t meant to make a political statement; rather, Styles notes that he just enjoys experimenting with fashion:
Why I asked Vocal to move my story from the Feminism Community....
I love strong women. There is something powerful about a woman who lives without limits. Something brave and beautiful. A woman who stands up not only for herself but for others. She’s sexy. She’s resilient. She’s truly feminine. Women have fought hard simply to have a voice that could be not only heard, but also considered and respected.
Jessica RaePublished 3 years ago in VivaThe Book That Saved My Life
Darkness overcame my heart the day that I was raped. The girl I used to be all those years ago is long gone. For a number of years, that felt like the worst thing to me. Feeling like you are giving up on yourself when you have no control is a scary process. Tears would overflow almost daily. Many days I would ask myself why he hadn't just killed me. Other days I would long for it. Then one day came that changed everything for me.
The Darkest SunrisePublished 3 years ago in VivaTERF is not Feminism
Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism Written By Leon Zadok – January 15, 2021 Feminism is a multifaceted beast. Proponents of feminism, I'm sure, would all say they are 'for' gender equality for women. But, the specifics of what that means can be contentious. As LGBTQ communities become more present in our collective consciousness, disagreements about what it means to be a feminist have exposed new darkness within a gender, just beginning to reap the benefits of emancipation.
SNROCINUTAFPublished 3 years ago in Viva