body

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

Of Metamorphic Potential
The sun beamed on my face as sweat mixed with hair grease burned the side of my eyes. Or maybe it was the smell of freshly laid tar that sat on top of Abu’s storage extension.
By Jamila Khan8 years ago in Viva
Why Can't I Love My Body?
It’s truthfully an every-day struggle to love myself. It isn’t because I don’t want to, or because I find my body image to be atrocious. It’s simply because I can’t. Believe me, I try.
By Katelynn Hill8 years ago in Viva
PCOS & Me...
So as a young girl, I was always hairier than the other girls and a little chubbier too. My mum used to make passing jokes about me being her little gorilla, which was funny I guess... until I became a teenager. I remember being about 12 and finally starting my period. I was rather excited to finally be "becoming a woman." All was going well until I turned 13 and started having periods once every three months (if that). I felt like I’d been stripped of my womanhood. But ah well, not a big deal, right?
By Lily Amos8 years ago in Viva
Mother May I
It seems to be a popular topic to discuss regarding body shaming. With social media in our grasps, today’s generation have taken bullying to the next level… we have young girls starving themselves and committing suicide every day because they couldn’t reach that idealistic “perfect” body.
By Ama8 years ago in Viva
What is the Perfect Body Type?
In the celebrity world a few months ago, Stacey Solomon spoke up about being ashamed of your MumBod. As a mum of two, Soloman has said that she wants to remove the negativity surrounding post-pregnancy bodies.
By Emily Fowler8 years ago in Viva
Pros and Cons of Birth Control Every Woman Should Know
When it comes to contraception, there are a copious amount of different options to prevent pregnancy, but which is the best for you? It's always helpful to lay out the different pros and cons when you are making a decision.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Viva
'You are Fat!'
People define women and men by their appearance. Some people can't see beyond the outer shell. Due to this reason, there are many heartbreaks. A large number of guys emphasise certain areas and when a woman doesn't match up to that standard, she becomes insecure. On top of this, it is so easy for someone to call you fat without realising how badly it will impact you mentally.
By J 8 years ago in Viva
Learning To Love Yourself In A Size 4 Society
I'm sure that most, if not all of us have hated our appearance at one point or another. Well, maybe not hate but disliked our appearance. Growing up we're told we need to be skinny, we need to look pretty, we need to be feminine, we need to do this and that, but what about what we wanted? Some of us wanted to be models and were denied by the industries because we aren't size 4s, or because we don't have flat stomachs, or some other BS.
By Em8 years ago in Viva
The Craft of Contemporary Plus-Size Criticism
“You’re so brave.” “You’re pretty for a bigger woman.” Sadly, I’ve come across these double-edged comments and many more on plus-size women’s pictures way too often since I joined the social media community. They’re described as double-edged because although they appear to be compliments they are in fact hurtful to most. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for what us curvy femmes are used to hearing, or reading on an everyday basis from our followers, friends, and family, and bluntly, it has to stop.
By Nicole Enid8 years ago in Viva
Should Clothing Chains Charge More to Plus Size Consumers?
Already starting this week, there are shoppers out there that are complaining on social media along with their discovery that a well-known British retailer is deliberately charging higher prices for plus-size clothing items. It’s been found that there are two clothing items that are identical except for the fact that they are different sizes. The smaller one reflects one price and the other one that is plus-sized displays a price that is nearly doubled. Is it fair and legal for this company or any other clothing retailer to do this?
By Kathy Lester8 years ago in Viva
When Body Positivity Gets Ugly
I will start this piece in something of a matter-of-fact way. I am plus size. I always have been, and I likely always will be. This is not me resigning myself to some awful lifelong fate; this is me accepting my body for what it is – and loving it anyway. My height and my dress size have opened a lot of doors for me since I got on board the body positivity train when I was eighteen, including working with major plus size fashion retailers and model agencies. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing though, and despite my current dress size being a fairly consistent size 18, one phrase has stuck with me since I won the Simply Be Model Search in 2011.
By Abigail Hill8 years ago in Viva
What to Know About Permanent Birth Control for Women
It is important to know that you have options when it comes to permanent birth control procedures. This process can seem intimidating without knowing all of the details. And this is why it is crucial to know what to expect, how your recovery process will go, and what is best for your body. Your local women's health organization will always be of great help in your process, as well.
By Sherry Campbell8 years ago in Viva