Survey finds 36% of women have felt unable to refuse sex
More than one third of women have felt unable to say no to a sexual encounter, according to research commissioned by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme to mark its 80th anniversary. The survey of 2,000 women reveals a concerning pattern: women struggle to prioritise themselves and voice their needs across intimate situations, the workplace and public life. The findings highlight persistent barriers that prevent women from speaking up for themselves in the areas that matter most.
The poll found that 36 per cent of women felt unable to refuse sex at least once, with over a quarter experiencing this multiple times, and younger women most likely to feel pressured. Beyond intimate encounters, over 90 per cent of women prioritise others' needs before their own at least sometimes, and nearly two-thirds do this often or always. At work, half of employed women feel uncomfortable asking for pay rises or promotions, whilst nearly 40 per cent report being talked over by male colleagues and a quarter say men take credit for their ideas. The research underscores how widespread these barriers remain, despite nearly three-quarters of women wanting greater female influence in national decision-making.
- Over one third of women felt unable to refuse sex at least once
- More than 90 per cent of women regularly prioritise others' needs before their own
- Half of working women are uncomfortable asking for pay rises
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A new survey by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme has examined how women feel about asserting themselves in important areas of their lives. The research, commissioned to mark the programme's 80th anniversary, surveyed 2,000 women to understand whether they struggle to speak up for themselves in intimate situations, at work and in public life.
The poll found that more than one third of women have felt unable to refuse a sexual encounter at least once, with younger women particularly likely to experience this pressure. The findings suggest a wider pattern: over 90 per cent of women said they prioritise others' needs before their own at least sometimes, with nearly two-thirds doing so often or always.
In the workplace, the survey revealed significant barriers to women's advancement and influence. Half of employed women feel uncomfortable asking for pay rises or promotions, nearly 40 per cent report being talked over by male colleagues, and a quarter say men take credit for their ideas. Despite these obstacles, nearly three-quarters of women want greater female influence in national decision-making.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The survey documents a substantial proportion of women feeling unable to refuse sexual encounters, reflecting real barriers to sexual autonomy rooted in power imbalances and systemic pressures. This pattern's consistency across different life domains suggests these are not isolated incidents but reflect broader structural problems preventing women from exercising agency. Taking these experiences seriously and addressing the conditions that make women feel unable to assert themselves is essential for genuine gender equality and sexual autonomy.
The case against
Whilst the findings merit attention, 'unable to refuse' encompasses a spectrum from explicit coercion to social pressure, communication difficulty, and conflict avoidance—each requiring distinct understanding and response. The survey does not adequately distinguish between these scenarios, nor provide sufficient detail on question wording and how respondents interpreted this concept. Before accepting strong conclusions about systemic coercion, the research should clarify whether findings reflect genuine inability (lack of choice) or difficulty asserting preferences, as these diagnoses would suggest quite different policy approaches.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “More than one in three women have felt unable to say ‘no’ in a sexual encounter”.