Well, I have no idea what ratsnakes do. None!
But I've seen my ball python females approach unresponsive males, particularly if they are an established couple from a previous season. Last year when I put my pied female with her black pastel boyfriend, he more or less ignored her, and she was clearly trying to get HIS attention. But her behaviors were different. Normally George puts his head on Ursula's back while he tries to line up their bodies. That time, Ursula was following George, but she kept jamming her head UNDER his body.