

Sex Survey
41% Women Think Sex & Love Are Not Connected
That’s just the tip of the melting sexual iceberg. Many such revelations tumble out in this Outlook-Cfore poll on forbidden sex.
Answers by both men and women respondents | |
Do you believe in breaking rules when it comes to sex? | |
Sometimes | 50% |
Never | 43% |
Always | 7% |
Have you ever had sex with any of the following? | |
Teacher | 5% |
Doctor | 5% |
Guru | 2% |
Therapist | 2% |
None | 86% |
Is it all right to have sex with one's religious guru or teacher? | |
Yes | 13% |
No | 61% |
Can't Say | 26% |


Do you know people who have had sexual relationships within their joint family? | |
Yes | 45% |
No | 55% |
Have you ever tried partner-swapping? | |
Never wanted to do it | 77% |
Never got a chance | 20% |
Sometimes | 2% |
Yes, many times | 1% |
What would you do if you were caught having sex with a relative? | |
Apologise | 42% |
Deny | 23% |
Vow never to do it again | 21% |
Tell others to mind their own business | 1% |


Do you think sexual fidelity to one's spouse or companion is important? | |
Yes | 32% |
No | 25% |
Can't Say | 43% |
Do you think having forbidden sex is better than having sex with your spouse/partner? | |
Yes | 36% |
No | 64% |
Do you know of anyone who is bisexual? | |
None | 65% |
More than one person | 23% |
Yes, one person | 10% |
More than 10 people | 2% |
Do you always have safe sex? | |
Always | 57% |
Sometimes | 35% |
Never | 8% |


Answers by male respondents | |
Do you ever fantasise about your wife or girlfriend's sister? | |
Yes | 29% |
No | 71% |
Have you ever pretended to be in love to get sex? | |
Yes | 61% |
No | 39% |
Given a chance would you have sex with your wife/girlfriend's best friend or sister? | |
Yes | 31% |
No | 69% |
Have you ever cheated on your wife/partner? | |
Yes | 41% |
No | 59% |
Have you tried any of the following? | |
Sex with call girls | 58% |
Drug parties and sex | 15% |
Blind dating and sex | 14% |
None of these | 12% |
All of these | 9% |
(Multiple response was allowed) | |


Answers by female respondents | |
Have you ever sexually fantasised about your husband's brother or best friend? | |
About his best friend | 16% |
About his brother | 4% |
Never | 80% |
What would you do if your boyfriend cheated on you with your best friend? | |
End both relationships | 60% |
Forgive and forget | 17% |
Do the same | 13% |
Complain to his family | 10% |


Who do you enjoy having sex with most? | |
Younger men | 64% |
Older men | 36% |
Would you like to try a threesome sexual experience with a close friend plus husband or boyfriend? | |
Yes | 21% |
No | 79% |
Have you ever been asked for sexual favours from teachers, doctors, gurus or bosses? | |
Never | 80% |
Sometimes | 12% |
Very often | 6% |
Always | 2% |
Do you discuss your sex life with your doctor or boss? | |
Yes | 12% |
No | 88% |
If your husband did not give you oral sex, what would you do? | |
Forget it, it’s not important | 53% |
Have an extramarital affair | 16% |
Find other ways of pleasure | 16% |
Hire a male prostitute | 15% |


Photographs by Anita Khemka / Photoink An English literature graduate, Anita Khemka began photography in 1996. Her oeuvre has largely been defined by social documentary work; people living with HIV, the mentally challenged, child labour etc. Her current work dealing with alternative sexuality has been made into a German film, Between the Lines—India’s Third Gender, which opened at the recent Locarno Film Festival. | |
Methodology OUTLOOK-Cfore survey | |
Research organisation Cfore conducted the survey in eight cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Guwahati between August 28 and September 7, 2005. A structured questionnaire that was based on the realm of forbidden sexuality, keeping the Indian culture and social taboos in mind, was given to male and female respondents in the age group of 20-45 years. These respondents belonged to SEC A and SEC B category of the above cities. A total of 2,000 people were initially approached to zero down to the final list of 800 which was the targeted sample size. Out of these, 784 responded with the questionnaire fully completed. The total sample size had 47 per cent females and 53 per cent males as a representative set. The surveying method was one-to- one interviews, in which the researchers explained the theme and purpose of the survey and then handed over the questionnaire to the respondents to be filled and returned two days later, assuring complete anonymity. |