Why is everyone on vinted an exhibitionist?
What I am discussing today is something I have noticed when doom-scrolling vinted to get a kick of dopamine, because while I do not necessarily buy a lot of clothing, I do still like looking at pretty things. But instead of looking at pretty shirts, dresses and shoes, what I am confronted with instead and avidly looking at, is women's bodies. And despite being a woman myself, I am no better than a man.
Recently I saw a picture of a woman wearing a crochet shirt without anything underneath. In the first picture I could discern where here nipples were, but at least in her second picture she graciously put two fingers over each, because actually showing it would be ludicrous of course. Just a few minutes ago there was a girl showing a dress that sat so low on her chest it barely covered it... everything was showing. Girls are posting ass pictures with thong bikini's leaving nothing to the imagination.
Do not get me wrong, I am all for self expression (though I have many opinions about this as well), but why is what is supposed to be a clothing app being used to appeal to the sexual desire of a woman to be seen. Sex sells. And it is sad that women are using their bodies instead of the clothes to sell it. The female sexual desire is no thing to be ashamed of. Women are using the coveted male gaze to their advantage in business, but with it they are perpetuating it all the same. Sexualising yourself will only make the situation worse. Of course the argument could be made that I am sexualising them when they are just trying to sell clothing. But in an age where almost every woman in the society I live in is aware of how badly women are sexualised, where uploading pictures like that to sell clothes are rooted in feelings of validation, and needing to be seen, it seems unlikely that I am wrong. I am not trying to criticise them, in fact I am like them as well. And you know what? I get why it happens, attention feels addicting. As much as I hate to admit it, I love knowing that when I am wearing a gorgeous ensemble, a short skirt that highlights my legs, or pants that show my curves, men will look at me, because that is all I have been taught. I am to be desired, and I want to be seen.
I've been trying to slowly rid myself of this mindset, focusing less on appearance, but everyday my mind is aware of what my face looks like, what I am wearing and the fact that my shirts will never feel a stretch on their top half. What saddens me the most however is the realisation that my mind is not the only one that is tainted. Even something as simple and harmless as a clothing app cannot compete with our generational trauma.
Perhaps one day we will be healed, but that will never happen if we keep posting our self-sexualised bodies for validation. I hope one day we will be able to genuinely value ourselves outside of our appearance.
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