The right to refuse | Consent, choice and the limits of love
Women increasingly recognise consent as a right, yet social expectations, emotional coercion and moral judgement still silence choice when it matters most
(Illustration by Nilanjan Das / AI)
ISSUE DATE: Jul 20, 2026 | UPDATED: Jul 10, 2026 19:29 IST
Consent is usually imagined as a single word spoken at a single moment. This section of the survey examines a more complex idea—that consent is not a one-time ‘yes’, but a continuing act of agency. It includes the right to refuse, the right to desire and the right to change one’s mind, and it is often in love and intimacy that these rights face the greatest pressure. The questions probe the space between choice and pressure, where affection, expectation and guilt blur the line.