body
Feminism demands a future free of fat shaming, body obsession and the male gaze.
To the Woman Struggling to Love Her Body
We have all been struggled with our body in one way or another. It is hard to remember sometimes all that our body does for us and just how beautiful we are. When you look at your tummy in the mirror remember the feeling you got when you first saw the little bump that got bigger and bigger as it surrounded a growing baby. Remember how bad it hurt when you laughed so hard you cried. Hold onto that feeling and tell yourself that it is giving you the nutrients and energy you need to keep laughing and helping those around you whether it is chasing the babies around, working tirelessly, or holding another up when they are weak. When you look at your legs remember the feeling of running towards a loved one you haven’t seen in awhile. How they carried you so effortlessly. Remember all of the mountains you have climbed and just how beautiful the view was and how you wouldn’t have gotten there or even gotten out of bed this morning without them. Hold onto that feeling. Look at your arms. Remember the feeling of a warm embrace. How they gave you the ability to hold something close to your heart. Be it a person or a thing. Remember that. Hold onto it. Look at your face. Look at your eyes. Remember all of the sights they have seen and the looks of others eyes locking into yours letting you know you seen, you are safe, you are beautiful, you are loved. Remember the fire that burns inside of them when you set your mind to something. The lines that lay gently next to them. Remember all of the laughs you have laughed in order to earn those. All of the bright skies that have blinded you and made you squint, but it was a blessing because that means you have gotten to see a sunny day. Look at the skin on your face and remember all of the times it has been touched by a gentle hand, the warm rays of the sun, the kisses of babies and puppies. It may look tired, but that is because it has been through another day. Another day that you have gotten to live. Look at your mouth. Remember all of the times it has allowed you to say I love you. Remember the countless smiles you have given and how you have completely made someone’s day with your smile. Think back to the last stranger you smiled at and how they smiled back at you. Remember that feeling. Remember the feeling of making silly faces to make others laugh. Remember words that have been spoken to let others know you care. Remember the times that you haven’t had to say anything at all. They way your expression allowed you to say 1000 words without a single peep. Remember looking at yourself in the mirror at a low point and telling yourself you can do this and you did. We often take our bodies for granted and only see the flaws. We don’t remember the sunsets painted across them that almost reflected the bright and beautiful souls on the inside. We don’t think about how others see us and the fact that they see us for the actions we are doing and not the flaws that we think we have. Our bodies are something to be proud of. Every stretch mark, wrinkle, scar, and anything else we see as a flaw is really just a reflection of how much we have lived, the things we have gone through, and how strong we are. We are only ever given one body and it is our job to keep it healthy, but it is also our job to live and we cannot do that if we are to self conscious to do something based on how we look, worried about the calories we are consuming instead of enjoying the meal with our loved ones, or spending countess hours trying to change the way we look or covering it up when we could be doing something far more important, because remember that people see you for your actions and what you are doing with your body and not how you actually look. Those that are looking are looking at how beautiful you look and are thinking how blessed they are to have you in their life. All of these negative thoughts are in our minds and we project them onto our bodies, but most of the time the only place they really are is simply in our head. Remember all that your body has done and try to look at it as a child does. They do not know flaws. They only know bodies and how each are different and unique, but never flawed. You are beautiful and try to paint these memories across your body the next time you want to portray a negative thought onto it.
By Lexi Carter5 years ago in Viva
Period Poverty Throughout Covid-19 – What Challenges May It Bring?
The Covid-19 outbreak we are currently living through, is difficult for everyone. However, studies have found that girls and young women are disproportionately affected by health emergencies. In addition to the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on girls’ mental health (40 per cent of young women ages 14-21 have said that lockdown has negatively impacted their mental health), the issue of period poverty is also more acute and urgent than ever.
By Caitlin Purvis5 years ago in Viva
Bleeding In A Mans World.
I'm a woman. Been one my whole life. I started my period when I was 15. Yeah, I know. I was a late bloomer. I'm grateful for my menstrual and the fact that it comes when it's supposed to, and it goes at a reasonable time. I feel like my body operates alright, as far as all my female organs and all that kind of stuff.
By Charity Faye Alexander5 years ago in Viva
#metoo
To the man who tried to assault me, I'm sure you don't remember me. After all, I was just a waitress in a hotel trying to get through the 6th Christmas party she'd served at that week and heading to get more cutlery at 1am while you were stumbling up from the bar. I was just 17 years old when you grabbed me by the waist so hard you left bruises as I tried to walk past you. "Oh baby... baby where are you going?" You slurred into my ear while pressing your erection against my hip. "You don't want to work tonight, come back to my room instead... you'll have much more fun" you smirked as you pushed me through a door and down the corridor. You shushed my protestations and, when I began to cry while saying "please no" over and over again, you grabbed my upper arm and told me to shut up.
By Megan Hindmarsh5 years ago in Viva
Menstruation Hygiene Tips!!
Menstruation Hygiene Tips!! Women are thankful for many of the natural traits in them like bearing a child, going through labor pains and much more. However, one natural phenomenon that most of the women are not that fond of is Menstruation. It's not that we hate it, but we do not like it as much as we adore night dress for girls sexy. As this comparison makes no sense, so does the period aches.
By Billebon Online Lingerie Store5 years ago in Viva
My Body
Sex=pills and portions. If not sex=babies. Have you ever thought about how hard it is to have a great sex life as a woman? I don’t know about you, but I love to have sex. Its intimate enough to satisfy my craving for an affectionate touch but just as detaching to preserve my emotional independence. However, this freedom of sexual expression comes with a plethora of responsibilities. At my age, there is now way I’m having a child right now. So that means it’s my responsibility to be on contraception. Ugh. Take your pick… the pill, patch, injection, IUD. I have tried a couple techniques to shield myself from a pregnancy, if I was a man… anyway. With contraception there’s risks, of course. Your tit might fall off, JOKING. No seriously, cancer, blood clots, exotic pregnancy. Although these risks are clinically “rare” they still happen. I don’t mean to be a Debby-downer, but doesn’t it just make you so mad sometimes. You’d think because women go through enough during childbirth and after that we should be able to enjoy a full, vibrant sex life. But I guess not. Me, I’m against contraception. I was on it for a long time and started at a relatively young age. I didn’t even realise that I could feel so normal when I came off of it. There were so many aspects of life that were affected by the pills I was taking. My skin, for one, was trash lol. I’ve only just been able to undo the years of damage. Second, my mood swings were horrible, I would get so upset sometimes and wouldn’t even know why. Thirdly, the constant yeast infections. I thought my vag was just more sensitive or something, but once I came off the pill I went from having thrush every 1-2 months to having them every 1-2 YEARS! The only good thing I can say about that experience was that it kept me slim (but once I came off it, I exploded so I guess it’s not that great lol). I bet some will say but “it’s worth it because you could have worry-free sex”. Wrong. I had continuously heart attacks (not real ones) every month until I got my period. As you know the pill is not 100%. I didn’t get pregnant though, thankfully lol. Yes, it worked.
By Anita Victor5 years ago in Viva
Dear Ladies Who Struggle With Body Image
Throughout my 26 years on this earth, my most prominent enemy was the perception of body image. Whenever I would watch shows or movies, the female main character was tall and skinny. The photos I would see in magazines of “attractive women” were photos of women with big boobs and a toned stomach. My older sister fit those molds but, I did not. My sister would receive attention from boys and I would not. Growing up I was always the smart sister who was hysterical with a fun personality but, not the pretty one. Thinking about that now, I am proud of those traits. Growing up in my sister’s shadow though, put me in a dark place mentally.
By The Mindful Educator5 years ago in Viva
Flashbacks
Okay, so just like many girls have been through stuff so have I. I’d like to say more than people imagine, us girls been through a lot. If you just sit there and tell yourself I wonder if she’s been through certain stuff more likely she has. People who know me don’t know this,but I have been through some in thing that changed me. This is the first time I talk to it in public. Yes, I know I’m beautiful, smart, worthy, caring, and out of all I’m Me; but there’s some people that didn’t understand that they shouldn’t take advantage of us. Like I said in many of my stories before my mom worked a lot and for that reason she would leave us with her friends to take care of us. Until, one day she said we staying with one of her coworkers wife. They had a beautiful home and they were nice. I don’t know what they were to her, but they also took care of the owners kids with us. The lady would treat us like her own. Girls I know sometimes it’s hard to trust people and after I’ve been through this I know also. This ladies husband would call my sister and I to come and sit on his lap while watching T.V.,but little by little as day goes by he would intentionally touch us in the wrong places. He would stick his tongue in my sisters ear and mine and bite it to. He would rub us all over and at the time I don’t think I knew what was going on. I’ve been sexually harassed and even though I didn’t get it worse as many of you guys I still was tormented for life. My trust in older people and my love for Mexicans went away. That guy was Mexican which was why I couldn’t stand my people at all. People who haven’t been through this will say stuff like; Why would that have anything to change you about?”,or stuff like can’t you just forget about it?”. In reality, No we can’t because once a woman been through certain stuff they start building their wall. Some women who are hard to get or hard to open are those victims. I know I don’t like talking about my problems because I never told my mom what happens until the other day recently we talked about it. It’s been about 10 years I want to say. Reason for my relationships with guys have not been the best. I always think to myself am I good enough for him, am I worthy, is he going to judge me, or stuff like will he love me still. I’m here to tell women don’t be scared to open up please we need more strong women out there to help one another. Women should be proud of who they are because we are all beautiful and strong. Girls who been through stuff and you have a boyfriend don’t be scared to open up and be you. I promise you they’ll accept you and appreciate you more. I learned the hard way but that’ll be in a different story. Also ladies listen make sure you speak to people you trust with these things. Honor and make sure you love yourselves FIRST. That’s my story and I know many girls been through stuff like that. I promise your future will get better it’s time to get up babygirl and rise to your future.
By Melissa Meza5 years ago in Viva
