Jasmin is currently training to become a "sex-positive specialist" in the feminist sex shop Sexclusivity in Berlin. The shop's motto is, "Women can do anything, but they don't have to." Every Friday evening, the shop hosts a workshop aimed at helping women better understand and appreciate their bodies. This week's theme is vulva watching, which is described on the event's Facebook page as: "Exchanging the gift of being seen and heard through our beautiful and unique pussies."

I'm lying on my back, naked from the waist down, in some stranger's living room, while a woman named Jasmin is inspecting my vagina. Suddenly, I experience a rare moment of self-awareness: I'd rather show randoms my vulva than talk about my feelings.

And so a few Fridays ago, I join a group of six women in their mid 30s in the living room of Laura Merrit—the owner of Sexclusivity. Laura's flat is situated above her shop and it's largely decorated with items she also stocks downstairs: Dian Hanson's The Big Book of Pussy leans on a shelf directly above vagina-shaped pillows. On the opposite wall stands a cabinet full of glass dildos, egg-shaped vibrators, feminist porn, and leather strap-ons. I can hear the muffled voice of a male client coming from the shop, but he isn't welcome into what Jasmin refers to as our "women-only salon of pleasure."

According to a study by the German Society of Intimate Surgery and Genital Aesthetics , roughly half of all women completely dislike their genitals. "We live in an over-sexualized society," Jasmin tells me. "Our generation watches a lot of online porn, and from that, we're taught what a perfect pussy is meant to look like. Which is bullshit." Laura hopes that through these workshops, women will learn to approach their bodies more openly, confidently, and beyond mainstream porn and gender stereotypes.

Whether it's through naked yoga, feminist porn viewings, workshops on female ejaculation titled "We shoot back" or vagina-massage classes, Laura and her team try to project body-positive experiences. By making vaginas more "visible," Jasmin believes she can help other women develop a healthier relationship with their own bodies.

Back in Laura's living room, we are preparing for the vulva watching session. "I've never really looked at my vulva," one of the participants admits to nods of agreement. Two minutes later, we are all naked.

Sociologist Anna-Katharina Meßmer's work deals with beauty ideals regarding vaginas. "The most popular shape is the 'bread roll,'" she tells me over the phone when I call to ask for context a few days after attending the vulva watching session. "It's about having the tightest, smallest, and smoothest genitals that show no sign of aging, giving birth, or sexual experience. It's not very realistic." Sex therapist Andre Bräu agrees but also notes that because men's genitals "dangle in front of them," they grow up with a better understanding and appreciation of their bodies.

At that point, I'm more worried about what to say in the discussion that is set to take place afterward. So I try to think about everything else—the weather, my mother, my last Pap smear... But an alarming thought suddenly interrupts my zen-like state: Fuck, I really hope my period blood isn't leaking, I worry. I almost forgot I am menstruating today.

I lay down on my back with my hands on my belly, and Jasmin kneels in front of me. After a few moments, I realize that being naked doesn't really bother me that much. I know and like my vulva—we've stared at each other through a mirror a lot. I can't really relate to the other women who haven't inspected their own because I was 7 years old when I first became curious about my body. I've even encouraged ex-boyfriends to have long, un-sexual exploration sessions with my vulva. Allowing a stranger to inspect it almost feels like a natural next step.

Soon enough, the inspection is over, and we all gather in a circle to discuss the experience—accidentally flashing one another in the process. Thankfully, I am not the only one who seems uncomfortable talking about it—most of the other women tell jokes about their session rather than discuss it in a serious way. Jasmin jumps in, saving us all from our embarrassment: "Every pussy is different, yet they are all beautiful. Ideally, I would love to ask all of my friends if I could see theirs too."

After the chat, it's my turn to inspect. Jasmin sits back on a pillow and spreads her legs. For five minutes, I just stare at her vulva. I try hard to keep a straight face and not think about how strange this all is. After a few moments, I tilt my head to the side and suddenly appreciate how different Jasmin's vulva was from mine.