The part(s) of the body exposed can be the female breasts or the genitals or buttocks of either gender.

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 Displaying one's buttocks for shock value is known as mooning in the U.S. or a browneye in Australia and New Zealand. Anasyrma is lifting up one's skirt to expose bare genitals. Martymachlia is a paraphilia involving sexual attraction to having others watch the execution of a sexual act.

In the U.S., about half of all exhibitionists are married.  Female exhibitionists may seek employment where the condition can be exploited, such as topless dancing, although most people in such jobs are not exhibitionists. About half of adult women have witnessed indecent exposure sometime in their lives. However, genital exhibitionism is rare among women. Some women engage in a form of exhibitionism by undressing in front of windows as if they are encouraging someone to watch them. In addition, wearing the low cut gowns favored by some models and actresses have been described as socially sanctioned exhibitionism. One textbook description of exhibitionism says "women exhibit everything but the genitals; men, nothing but."

Exhibitionists who view exhibitionism as a lifestyle, as opposed to a rare thrill, carefully select their target audience and make the exposure brief, inconspicuous and apparently unintentional.  Many night clubs and goth bars encourage mild exhibitionism to enhance the venue's atmosphere. This contrasts with non-sexualized social nudity, in which the exposure is not connected with sexual expression, such as sunbathing or swimming at nude beaches or other participation in public nudity events where nudity is the norm.

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