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.
Summer Ready—Or Not?
Hey everyone—it is officially summer time! If you are anything like me, you are sadly unprepared for the summer time when it comes to going to the beach or the pool. I live about three miles from the beach and I still do not even have my beach body ready, if I am completely honest. The winter completely wrecked me with my health as far as being able to work out. I know it is no excuse, but it was to the point where I could hardly do much without a ton of pain. Thank goodness—now that it is summer time—I am feeling much better and almost completely pain free!
By Katheryn Compton7 years ago in Viva
Making Concrete Standing: Scream Your Voice in Activism
Your heart increases the amount of beats with every solid formation you preach upon yourself, as strong as the foundation you've built you happened to tell yourself "no" in the making, in hopes that that'll work out better than your biggest idea.
By Robyn Henson7 years ago in Viva
We Have to Stop Stigmatizing Birth Control
Much of the conversation around abortion rights inevitably morphs into a discussion about birth control, and without fail swarms of people in congress (and on Twitter) decide to take it upon themselves to explain why access to certain types (or all types) of birth control should be restricted. This has always baffled me, since abortion medication and birth control are not the same thing, and access to affordable birth control has been proven to reduce abortion rates. Apparently the high of rummaging through people’s medicine cabinets makes that information seem irrelevant.
By Jordan Emmons7 years ago in Viva
Dystopian Healthcare
I entered the doctors room sheepishly. So clinical, yet dated. I’d been holding my breath a lot in the waiting area. As if that may save me from picking up any lingering bugs. I found her face and relaxed a little. She was a kind-looking woman with wild, greying, red hair. Eyes that didn’t look at you, and I was happy for it. I was exposed. My body felt so fragile in that moment. It had been through a lot. I was surrendering myself to the situation, and the recommendations I’d received after the procedure.
By Anna Mclaughlin7 years ago in Viva
Uniqueness or Culture Fit
Back in elementary, I was not known to be a "feminine" girl because I was doing things that not normally girls would do. I would volunteer in basketball and football games with the boys while most girls will play at the playground. Not to mention, for school sports events with teams, I would sign up for all main sports, and I would end up getting trophies for the best female player. I would get scouted by my sports coaches to participate in school teams just because my skills and passion for the sport were recognisable.
By Arielle Celestelle7 years ago in Viva
Spotlight on Female Reproductive Health
Despite our hyper-sexualized society, female reproductive health often gets swept under the rug. It can be uncomfortable to talk about, either in a social context or with a health professional, and it's certainly something that isn't especially fun to get checked out for.
By Ashley L. Peterson7 years ago in Viva
Finding Acceptance in My Own Body
Everyday I fight a battle within myself. It’s not just cheat days of burgers, chips, and something with lots of sugar. It’s in my own mind. For every time a voice in my head tells me the outfit I have on looks good on me, there are five trying to drown out the positivity. Now, there are two. Sometimes there are five, but I can bring it down to two. I don’t know if those voices ever go away, but I can at least prevent them from messing with my mentality. They know my body is a sensitive subject for me. (It probably is for a lot of people.) They know I’m trying and everyday is a struggle; saying no to fries, trying to lower my soda intake, controlling how much of something I decide to eat, trying not to eat an entirety of something homemade in hopes of having it the next day, eliminating the constant snacking. The list goes on. For every small victory I have, I have to fight to prevent myself from going down the rabbit hole of things I might have done wrong concerning my body. It still continues, but the battle has become easier than it was years ago.
By Idalis Wood7 years ago in Viva
