Are sexy selfies empowering or desperate? That depends on your mindset, why you are taking them and what outcome you are expecting

If we are being honest, most of us have snapped a selfie or two where we thought we looked attractive or sexy. And many of us have sent a seductive picture or posted one online – smiling as the recipient texts back or as the number of likes grows. When you see someone share a racy selfie, what is the first thought that comes to mind? Do you judge them? Envy them? Pity them? I was recently asked an interesting question: “Are sexy selfies empowering or desperate?” What do you think? Here are some things to consider. Why are you taking that sexy mirror selfie? It is not so much the action that matters but rather the motivation. The very same action – taking a sexy selfie – can create different feelings or outcomes for someone depending on their motivation. Plastic surgery reversal guide and why stars like Victoria Beckham do it So ask yourself: why do I want to take this picture? Maybe you want to capture how beautiful or powerful you feel. Perhaps you really like a certain angle or pose, and it makes you feel grateful for the body you have. Maybe you take pictures as a form of self-expression and as a way of claiming your sexuality. Perhaps you want to send it to someone as foreplay. Or do you want to take a picture to post on social media and remind the person who ghosted you weeks ago that you are still here? Maybe you are hoping your ex will regret breaking up with you. Maybe you are trying to stay relevant in the dating world. Whatever your reason for taking, uploading or sending a sexy picture may be, examine what it says about your relationship with yourself and those around you. Once you have your answer, reflect if that makes you feel desperate or empowered. What does sexy mean to you? Is it cringey, “try hard” or uncomfortable? Do you feel you are degrading yourself whenever you lean into your sensuality? Do you celebrate your body? Do you think being sexy is sacred and should only be shared with one person in a particular context? Your answer will dictate your actions and drive your feelings about those actions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CATHERINE ✨ (@katjym) What do you hope the consequence will be? Every action has a consequence. So what do you hope will be the result or impact of your sharing an intimate selfie? How realistic is it that the action will elicit the desired response? I often hear the argument that we “shouldn’t” be seeking external validation, admiration or praise, but the reality is that these are normal things to want. It is normal to want to be acknowledged and celebrated. The real question is: is this the best way to get those things, and how will you feel if you do not achieve them? If your picture does not give you what you want, will you blame or shame your body? Will your self-esteem take a hit? If yes, is the risk worth it? Why some celebrities lie about plastic surgery, and the damage it causes Should you share racy pictures in your dating profile? Having a sexy picture in your dating profile or on social media does not make you desperate unless that is how you felt when posting it. We have shamed people for leaning into their sexuality for far too long, but the only real danger I see is believing that being sexy is all we can offer – the danger lies in reducing ourselves to any one aspect of who we are. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @sexy___selfie How do your intimate photos make you feel? A good way to gauge how you feel about seductive selfies is to evaluate your feelings after taking one or seeing one. Is there a difference depending on which side of the camera you are on or who is in the picture? We can feel empowered or desperate by taking a sexy selfie; it all depends on our mindset. And others can perceive our pictures as empowering or desperate depending on their mindset. How you perceive yourself matters. And how you choose to share who you are with the world is up to you – after all, a picture is worth a thousand words. The author, Sara Kuburic, is a therapist who specialises in identity, relationships and moral trauma.