body

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

I Thought it was Just a Party
It’s Friday night, I was 16. My friends invited me out to a party and I was itching to get out, so I agreed. We had planned on drinking so we didn’t want to drive ourselves. A mutual friend had offered to give us a ride to the party, and back home. We thought that was a good idea and we could all have fun together without having to worry since we had a “responsible” designated driver.
By honey 5 years ago in Viva
Get your religion out of my vagina!
I am writing in the hopes of being heard. I do not aim to attack; only to respect all and express my thoughts. I only want to understand why another’s pain trumps not only my pain, but the pain of over 600,000 women a year - because we are all human and deserve love and compassion. This is very personal topic for me, and I’d like to share my perspective. I’d also like to add why pro-life beliefs are harmful and hurtful to people like me.
By Adrianne Williams5 years ago in Viva
Female Sexuality Can't Be Defined So Easily
One thing's certain, it's impossible to generalize female sexuality in blanket terms. Women desire sex in different ways, at different rates, and the amount of sex that any given woman wants in her lifetime can also fluctuate wildly.
By Elle Silver5 years ago in Viva
Reflections
WARNING: Reflections in this mirror may be distorted by socially constructed ideas of beauty. So the other day, I was looking at my reflection and I made the realization that there’s nothing – absolutely NOTHING – wrong with my body! I had an intense wave of love and appreciation for my body. Yes, I’m “over weight” but I’m not unhealthy. Yes, I can be more healthy, but I’m working on it! I eat healthy 90% of the time, I’m physically active, and I get good sleep. I have cellulite – as do 80-90% of women! And almost 70% of women are over weight or obese.
By Kaylee Norton5 years ago in Viva
Updating in Progress
The date is September 18, 2013. I am 18 years old. I am in the middle of my first semester of college. I am unaware that someone might want to take advantage of me. I am naïve.
By Hannah Stanton5 years ago in Viva
How to Make Your Period a Little More Tolerable. Top Story - December 2020. Created with: INTIMINA.
When I was fifteen, my periods were unimaginably painful. Once a month, I was bedridden for days, barely able to leave the fetal position. My gynecologist tested me for PCOS and other ailments, but couldn’t find the cause. With no clear diagnosis, she ultimately prescribed me birth control to mask my symptoms; while it was enough to help me get out of bed on those mornings, I knew I would need more if I didn’t want to waste a quarter of my life in discomfort.
By Jules Fortman5 years ago in Viva
Beauty standards and how to ignore them
When you think of the 'ideal body', what do you imagine? The majority of the society will think of small waists, big hips and large bosoms. However, this is completely incorrect. In this article I will reveal what the media have been hiding from you, and how to stop caring about the judgement we receive from everyone else.
By Jo Wallis5 years ago in Viva
Yes, I Would Look Better If I Lost Weight
I can still remember the first time I tried on clothes after my massive weight gain. I wanted to cry as I studied the image in the mirror. How could that be me? The image in the mirror certainly didn’t look like the woman I was used of seeing when I pictured myself. I’d always been petite and on the smaller side, and now I wasn’t. I had known that I was gaining weight, but it hadn’t hit me until I saw my reflection in the dressing room mirror. I silently peeled off the dress and put it back on the hanger. I have never felt uglier than I did at that moment. How had I managed to become this?
By Jade M.5 years ago in Viva
Women in India are quarantining for being ‘impure’.
Lady Business, Aunt Flo, Time of the month and mother nature. These are just some names many women around the world use to refer to their periods. In a time where women are empowered and encouraged to fight for gender equality there are still some part in the world where women are punished and shunned away from the society during their menstrual cycle.
By Ruchitra Singh5 years ago in Viva
Sleeping Beauty
Babe, hey I want to do it. I am not in the mood. I am tired. You don't have to do anything, just lay there. No. I don't want to. I just showered. I want to sleep. Maybe tomorrow.
By Rebecca (Beck) 5 years ago in Viva
Time for Female Travelers to Ditch Tampons
Being a female traveler has its own obstacles, one of which is dealing with the menstrual cycle. Whether it's a twenty-hour bus ride through South America or a stay in a hotel in Melbourne when the flow hits you, no lady enjoys the thought of her favorite khaki trousers being ruined by the crimson wave.
By CJ Weeks5 years ago in Viva
Is your Time of the month trying to cramp your look?
All right, it's not a topic that most women will feel comfortable talking about. The time of the month may be a dreaded affair, but let's face it ladies. In addition to mood swings and lethargy, there is also bloating and cramping that can often be intensely difficult to deal with. All of these inherently affect our lifestyle, from being sedentary and not working out to being careful about what to wear to contain our discomfort.
By Brands world5 years ago in Viva