Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
I, Human
It is almost three years since I have been attacked one early October morning as I was jogging around my neighborhood. Fortunately I was able to escape and the cops were able to catch him, but he was never prosecuted for it. Just once someone called about the incident a month later, but nothing after that. My trust with the police was already rocky to begin with, and this incident proved my belief even more. And even though I was not harmed, the incident left me paranoid around men and scared to the point I had to quit my job because the majority of my coworkers were guys. I just couldn't be there.
By Selena Villegas8 years ago in Viva
Broken Reflections
Poor self-esteem has always been an issue of mine. I don't know where it began, but it's left its mark on me. I am a 24 year old woman with an infant child. I want the world that I raise my child in to be good and wholesome. But today I had to look into the mirror and tell that broken, desperate woman that she was beautiful and worthy of love. What kind of world is that? When did beauty become so unattainable? When did it begin to dictate the value of our lives? How do we reverse the damage and smudge out those dirty words written on our mirrors?
By Camille Martin8 years ago in Viva
I'm Not, "Too Much"
My whole life I've been told I'm too loud. Too opinionated. Too expressive with my thoughts. You're so bossy! Quiet down. Stop being so honest. People don't like you because your personality is so strong. Well excuse the fuck out of me. Maybe I should just quiet down, stop being truthful, and turn into the little demure flower society obviously expects me to be.
By Shana Nizeul8 years ago in Viva
Messages Portrayed About Women in Television
When watching television, we hardly stop to analyze what subliminal messages the ads and shows are portraying. We usually just pick up the obvious messages and the rest is placed somewhere in the back of our minds. After thoroughly analyzing one television channel for 2 hours, I began to realize that a lot more ideas and messages are entering our minds than what we may see on the surface. In my writing I am going to be analyzing the ideas portrayed in the shows and commercials presented on the television station “Nick at Nite” and examine the way they they depict beauty images and how they represent the beauty norms of our society.
By Vanessa Solorzano8 years ago in Viva
Small Girl, No Pants
The dislike for shopping isn’t just for the heavier girl, skinny girls hate it too. In a world where only 5% of the population can fit into “off the rack” items, why are companies catering to vanity sizes? Companies should be focusing on catering to different body types, not a number.
By Rosa Reyes8 years ago in Viva
Socially Constructed Gender Roles
Once when I was 6 years old, I recall a day when my brother and I were playing with our toys while we waited for our mom to finish preparing dinner. My brother was playing with his toy cars and I was playing with my baby dolls. We decided to play with our toys together so I put one of my baby dolls in his toy monster truck and we took turns pushing it around. My brother decided to take the baby doll out of the monster truck toy to put it into another car. However, as soon as my brother picked up the doll, my mom had just walked in the room to check on us. She noticed that my brother was holding the baby doll and exclaimed how cute he looked holding it. This caught the attention of my dad who, unlike my mom, was not amused. My dad snatched the doll from him, “Babies are for girls! You’re a man son so you play with boy toys...Here.” he said sternly as he handed him a G.I. Joe action figure. As a 6 year old girl, I was very confused. I had seen my father hold my brother as a baby and feed him and care for him and show him affection, so why then were “babies for girls” only? This is just one example of how I was exposed to situations in which I was told that one had to be a certain gender in order to do certain things or act a certain way. In this essay I’m going to share with you the concept of the social construction of gender and how this applied to my life growing up, shaping me to be who I am today.
By Vanessa Solorzano8 years ago in Viva
Gender in the Fashion Industry
For so long, it wasn’t socially acceptable for girls to wear jeans. That seems ridiculous, does it not? The fashion industry and societal standards push these rules on us. Why is it that people who identify as male cannot wear a skirt or a dress?
By Madeline Kimble8 years ago in Viva
Signs That You're in an Abusive Relationship
Abuse comes in many different forms. It can be financial, emotional, physical, verbal and sexual. It's hard to see what an abuser looks like especially after the first couple of dates. Some people assume abusers have a look to them but this is not always the case. An abuser can come in all shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds. The signs that someone is abusive are there, but they are hard to notice at first.
By Stormy Sky8 years ago in Viva
Just Be YOU
When I looked in the mirror yesterday, all I saw was a 19-year-old girl with an endless amount of flaws. My hair didn’t fall the way I thought it should. I have acne spots. I looked down at my finger nails, angry that I didn’t have enough self-control to not bite them. I looked at my face—too round, too many freckles. My eyes, not blue enough. Eyebrows, they didn’t look the way the model’s did.
By Katie Hollis8 years ago in Viva
Marriage & Children? No Thanks.
I can't tell you how many times people with children tell me that one day I will have babies of my own. My response is always the same: "I don't want to have children, I love kids but they just aren't for me, I would not be able to take care of them properly." To which they always respond: "You say that now, but trust me, you will change your mind." I will NOT change my mind. I am mentally unable to care for another human being and that will never change no matter what. I have no control over that.
By Alyssa Lactin8 years ago in Viva
