family
Family life from the feminist perspective; can women have it all? Can anyone?
Mikayla Matthews: Growing Up, Motherhood, and Public Life
Growing up is rarely simple. People make mistakes, learn difficult lessons, and slowly discover who they are. Most of these moments happen privately, shared only with close friends and family. For some individuals, however, life unfolds in front of a public audience. That reality can make ordinary experiences feel far more intense. Mikayla Matthews is one of those people whose personal journey became widely visible through television and social media. Viewers first noticed her as part of a group of young adults navigating relationships, friendship, and early adulthood. Over time, her story grew beyond entertainment. It became a portrait of motherhood, personal struggle, loyalty, and learning to grow while thousands of people watch every step.
By Muqadas khana day ago in Viva
Why I’m Telling My Friends to Skip the Solitaire for a Diamond Band
Let’s have an honest conversation about engagement rings. For decades, we’ve been fed the same narrative: a proposal requires a giant, protruding diamond that costs three months' salary and stands so high off the finger it could practically have its own postcode. But as we move further into 2026, many of us are asking: Is that really what we want?
By Mohd Kaish21 days ago in Viva
Beyond the Sparkle: 5 Reasons Why a 1ct Engagement Ring is the Perfect 'Forever' Choice
The journey to finding the perfect engagement ring is often filled with a whirlwind of questions. Should you go for a massive stone that makes a statement, or something subtle? Should you prioritize the metal or the diamond? In the middle of all these trends—from the "minimalist" movement to the "bigger is better" celebrity culture—the 1ct engagement ring has remained the undisputed champion.
By Mohd Kaish2 months ago in Viva
Never Laugh at Woman's Pain
This story involves a life lesson learning experience for all women that they need to know and understand why they should never laugh at a woman’s pain because when she deals with it you will endure what she has. This story involves reality star and business Miss Nikki, former NBA basketball player/ wannabe rapper Gelo Ball, and Wild n Out gal Rashidia Nicole. Before I start to address this whole story and this is not a diss towards anyone, honestly, I was never involve in their lives and it is not my business to tell so. This is just a epitome of never laughing at woman’s pain.
By Gladys W. Muturi3 months ago in Viva
"The Woman or the Girl You Knew the night before...."
"Girl... ..... you'll be a woman, soon." Neil Diamond sang those lyrics circa 1967, the same year Aretha Franklin was belting out "Natural Woman". Bob Segar recorded the song "Turn the Page" in 1971 with the lyrics "You can think about the woman, or the girl you knew the night before." And "She's Always a Woman" is a song by Billy Joel from his "Stranger" album of 1977, while the BeeGee's sang "More than a Woman"also in the 70s. People also loved John Lennon's song "Woman" from the album "Double Fantasy" released in 1980. After that, the 80s and 90s did not produce any big titles with the word "Woman" as the main theme. So? Why all this history of "Woman" themed songs? What's my point? What does it mean to be a woman? VIVA community wants to know. I think Neil, Bob, Billy, The Gibbs, and John, have all tried to answer the question for women, but how many women have written a song about Women? We might bark up Melissa Etheridge's tree or the Indigo Girls, but as far as I've heard of their songs, I've not found one focused completely on the word or theme "Women" --- which has me believing that neither straight or lesbian women really know what to say about the word "woman" or "women" yet I have just thought of one artist who did come up with something in the 90s: Shania Twain. "Man, I feel like a Woman." Oh, wait. Another artist just came to mind - Whitney Houston (in the 80s) did do a remake of "I'm Every Woman" which was a Pop Hit for her.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman4 months ago in Viva
The Way of Being Grateful
Virtues are just as strong as vices. I ask myself if I'm a virtuous woman. I ask myself "Am I patient? Am I honest? Am I compassionate? Justified? Prudent? Faithful? Virtues are not easy. Vices are easy. I can easily say I can be too proud sometimes and I've known wrath. I can easily admit that envy, lust, and gluttony have caused much grief in my life. Roman philospher Cicero claimed that "Gratitude is a parent of the other virtues" although in many books written about virtues or vices, gratitude is not mentioned. Maybe that's because in November many of us celebrate the official holiday called "Thanksgiving Day" which was made an official holiday in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. "The holiday was permanently fixed to the fourth Thursday of November by a law signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941." (per google, 11/1/25)
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman4 months ago in Viva
Applying Piaget to Women Reinventing themselves
Have you ever heard of your favorite star (actress, singer, or something else) talk about how they got to a point in their lives where they had to "reinvent themselves"? I read articles (starstruck long ago) about some of my idols mentioning that phase or stage of their lives. I think it's very Piaget in thought or psychological consideration. Stages. Certain time periods of our lives. The childhood is different from the teenage years. The young adult life is different from the new mom and dad years. The empty nest or divorce years are different from the married grandma and grandpa years... Etcetera. For me personally, the past eight years have been challenging me in the harshest aspects of aging to "reinvent myself" --- and let me tell you --- for a stubborn 50-something woman like me who finds change uncomfortable, this "stage" or "phase" of my life and aging process has been utter drudgery.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman5 months ago in Viva
