T/F? Women are exhibitionists while men are voyeurs.

[PhiloDaddy]

What do you think? This is a generality of course, but it seems to fit. Thoughts?

 

[Rob_Royale]

I think people in general (both sexes) tend to have a little voyeuristic streak in them. We enjoy seeing a beautiful/handsome/attractive person. My grandfather nearly walked off a pier watching a woman in a bikini. My grandmother nearly fell off the same pier, laughing at him. Only for her to walk into a parking meter 20 minutes later, watching a fit male surfer walk by. It was a fun day.

The same for exhibitionism. People who are proud of their bodies enjoy showing them off. I think sites like OnlyFans make it seem like women enjoy it more, but that's only because men are willing to pay for it.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Idk. I like to watch.

 

[J_Bone]

My grandfather nearly walked off a pier watching a woman in a bikini.

I think "LOL" is far overused in netspeak. But this and the image in my head it created literally made me LOL! Us guys can certainly get transfixed on pretty shiny objects, sometimes to the point of our own peril.

As to the OP's question, I think everyone has both tendencies even though most will probably lean more to one side than the other. And I don't think gender has much to do with it. I've known plenty of women who love to watch and sometimes without being seen or heard, just watch.

 

[Baldo_bearded]

I disagree, definitely more into showing than seeing.

But will say, especially online, women exhibitionists are much braver than I could ever be to put up with the men.

 

[gtnlynn]

That generally fits the two of us. Lynn used to like to tease by showing some of herself, but she had no desire to see naked men. I enjoy seeing sexy ladies and sex activity, but I don't like to show myself.

 

[jehoram]

I would say that there are more male voyeurs than female ones.
But I would also say that there are more male exhibitionists than female ones.

But, like anything on a sliding scale, you can't really draw a line. Especially if you're trying to identify these things as clinical fetishes, where they're required for sexual perfomance.

 

[UtilityCurve]

As a rule of thumb, certainly.

 

[KatieDoes]

What do you think? This is a generality of course, but it seems to fit. Thoughts?

I think it’s false, but I understand why someone would make this assumption.

Men are often conditioned to believe that women make our decisions about what to wear based upon how those choices will appeal or not appeal to men.

In reality, the opinions of random unknown men aren’t much of a consideration at all when women are choosing our daily apparel and appearance.

Some women, sure, dress to appeal to the male gaze. But for the most part, we dress how we feel comfortable and confident and attractive. Attractive in our own eyes.

To the men who are conditioned to believe that women are dressing for them, they might think that a short skirt or a strappy sundress means that a woman is intending to expose herself to them in order to attract sexual attention. Meanwhile, she just likes how she looks and feels, and it has zero to do with men at all.

Oftentimes women are assumed to be exhibitionists when we are simply just existing.

 

[Dashabout]

To the men who are conditioned to believe that women are dressing for them, they might think that a short skirt or a strappy sundress means that a woman is intending to expose herself to them in order to attract sexual attention. Meanwhile, she just likes how she looks and feels, and it has zero to do with men at all.

So true, mostly we dress for comfort and to please ourselves, appropriately for what we are doing. Though sometimes being a bit naughty it can be fun to see the reactions of those who witness a "wardrobe malfunction" accidentally.

 

[PhiloDaddy]

Well. I am pleased with the traction on the thread. Period.

...like anything on a sliding scale, you can't really draw a line. Especially if you're trying to identify these things as clinical fetishes, where they're required for sexual perfomance.

You bring up a good point. If we categorize voyeurism and exhibitionism as a means toward sexual arousal does that change your response?

I'm 61 years old and I remember when magazines were the main means of arousal for a teenage boy. I don't know what the equivalent was for girls my age but I don't think too many teenage girls were buying Playgirl magazine...or am I just naïve?

 

[PhiloDaddy]

So true, mostly we dress for comfort and to please ourselves, appropriately for what we are doing. Though sometimes being a bit naughty it can be fun to see the reactions of those who witness a "wardrobe malfunction" accidentally.

@Dashabout - I was just reading your profile and I suspect you enjoy more than the occasional wardrobe malfunction. Am I right?

 

[CuriousRick]

I tend to be more of an exhibitionist

 

[Dashabout]

@Dashabout - I was just reading your profile and I suspect you enjoy more than the occasional wardrobe malfunction. Am I right?

Accidents do happen.

 

[SmokingFap]

Accidents do happen.

When you purposely strip down naked in front of other people or for photos, it's not an "accident".

 

[betabrad]

I’m definitely a voyeur. I would rather just watch and get off than actually do it. Part of the reason for me is that I’ve always had problems in bed; no performance worries if I’m just watching.

 

[UtilityCurve]

I think it's more complicated than that.



IME, men are universally voyeuristic: The visual is the ignition sequence for desire.



But while women exhibit more than men (has any man dressed in the hope of stimulating physical arousal in women?--now flip the script), playing to their strength, voyeurism has, if anything, a greater effect on women! (It's almost certainly not the cliche of "being competitive" [how come she's getting fucked and not me?], though one only finds in female-authored erotica [I propose a complete absence of it in male writing) the "hottest in the room, disapproving looks from the other women" trope.)



Nevertheless, to a woman, and again, simply IME, stumbling upon something private and sexy invariably produced arousal, even if just in the moment a socially-demanded look of disgust is made.



In sum, guys are voyeurs. Girls are both more exhibitionistic AND possibly even greater fans of voyeurism.

 

[Bisexguy70]

I have to agree with others on here that there is no set answer. I for one feel I am both. Like @PhiloDaddy commented about males looking at porn magazines, i fall into that category and I cant even begin to imagine the quantity of sperm I lost as a result of those images . I was a voyeur and the woman were exhibitionist in this scenario.
I didnt have confidence in my body or felt I was attractive so exhibiting any part of me was out of the question. However, after I opened myself up to having sexual contact with other men I discovered my exhibitionist side. I suppose when I started contacting men for any NSA encounters I shared my desire to dress in lingerie. I found many men liking it and turned on by it, so I fed on that need to be desired. My confidence grew and I found myself getting aroused at the fact that a guy was gazing and lusting after my body and wanting me sexually. At the same time I still love being a voyeur and watching others.
The ultimate example I think is in a 3 some. Being watched by one as you perform, and at the same time being able to watch the 3rd person pleasuring the person who is watching you. To me its the best of both worlds.

I cant speak for a woman but I can say from what I observed, there is no direct True or false answer to your question.