It's not disgustingly sexist, it's reality. If she has to ask you out she can probably also expect to need to take initiative in the bedroom and most women are turned off by that. It shows a lack of initiative and self confidence that she can expect to be reflected in work, your social life, and the relationship.

Women want to be led by the person they're dating. You can either accept that and deal with the personal consequences of having established a pattern of passivity and the resulting mental schema around sexism and how women should be treated literally as equals (despite not wanting to be) or you can keep being unhappy.

Your friends know you better than anyone here. What do you have to lose taking their advice just this one time? Just one time?