Only half of Malaysian women who are married or in a sexual relationship feel they can refuse sex with their partner, according to a survey released Thursday by Muslim women's advocacy group SIS Forum. Among those who gave in, many said they believed it was their marital duty or were guided by their faith.
The survey polled 1,004 women above 18 years old and categorized them into three marital statuses, with 61 percent falling into one group, the Malay Mail reported. The findings highlight persistent cultural and religious pressures that shape women's autonomy in intimate relationships within Malaysia.
The report underscores a gap between legal rights and lived reality for many Malaysian women. While Malaysia's laws criminalize marital rape under certain conditions, social norms and religious interpretations often discourage women from asserting consent.
SIS Forum, which commissioned the poll, has long advocated for gender equality and legal reforms. The group is expected to use the data to push for better education on consent and women's rights, though religious authorities have pushed back against such efforts.
Critics argue the survey's framing may conflate religious devotion with coercion, and note that cultural change is slow even where legal protections exist.