#Blesser: A critical evaluation of conceptual antecedents and the allure of a transactional relationship

Moodley, Prevan; Ebrahim, Sumayya

doi:10.18820/24150479/aa51i2.2

Cited by 10 publications

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References 11 publications

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“…Within the South African context, the economic and social conditions exist for transactional sex to be motivated by both ‘survival’ and in pursuit of social status or ‘consumption’. With respect to the latter, the ‘Blessed relationship’ has emerged, a convergence of technology, sexuality, and economics within a consumerist environment [ 14 ]. These relationships are characterised by young women seeking out men – known as ‘Blessers’ – who are willing and able to satiate their material desires in exchange for a sexual relationship [ 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determining HIV risk for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in relationships with “Blessers” and age-disparate partners: a cross-sectional survey in four districts in South Africa

et al. 2022

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Background HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remains high, with their male partners a prominent factor in sustaining these elevated rates. Partnership characteristics remain important metrics for determining HIV risk, with evidence indicating that AGYW engaged in transactional and age-disparate relationships face greater HIV exposure. This study examines the risk posed to AGYW in a relationship with a “Blesser”, defined as male who provides his female partner with their material needs or desires in exchange for a sexual relationship, an age-disparate (5 or more years older) partner, and the potential compounded risk of being a relationship with a partner or partners who are considered both a “Blesser” and age-disparate. Methods A cross -sectional household based representative sample of AGYW (aged between 12–24 years) were enrolled in the study (n = 18 926) from the districts of City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni in the Gauteng province and the Districts of eThekwini and uMgungundlovu in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa between March 13, 2017 to June 22, 2018. Participants completed a structured questionnaire and provided finger-prick blood samples for laboratory measurements. Our analysis used descriptive statistics and multiple binary logistic regressions accounting for survey weights, clustering and stratification. Findings The median age of the sample was 21 years old (Interquartile range: 19–23) and nearly three quarters (73.7%) were currently attending school. Whilst all relationships exposed AGYW to potential HIV risk, multiple binary logistic regression analysis revealed that AGYW in a relationship with both a Blesser and an age-disparate partner were more likely to be HIV positive (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.76–5.53, p < 0.001), diagnosed with an STI (AOR: 4.60, 95% CI: 2.99–7.08, p < 0.001), had 2 or more sexual partners in the previous 12 months (AOR: 6.37, 95% CI: 3.85–10.54, p < 0.001), engaged in sexual activity at age 15 or younger (AOR: 3.67, 95% CI: 2.36–5.69, p < 0.001) and more likely to have ever been pregnant (AOR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.24–5.45, p < 0.05) than those not in a relationship with either a Blesser or age-disparate partner. Conclusion Different relationships present different HIV risk to AGYW. AGYW who had engaged in relationships with both a Blesser and an age-disparate partner were at greater HIV risk when examined against these relationships independent of one another. The data reveals the compounded HIV risk of being in both a transactional and age-disparate relationship.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The motivation for a ‘luxury’ lifestyle versus a relationship motivated by survival, is the defining feature of these blessed relationships [ 15 ]. Additionally, age disparity is not a prerequisite for blessed relationships, whereas sugar relationships are traditionally cross-generational [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining HIV risk for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in relationships with “Blessers” and age-disparate partners: a cross-sectional survey in four districts in South Africa

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Within the South African context, the economic and social conditions exist for transactional sex to be motivated by both 'survival' and in pursuit of social status or 'consumption'. With respect to the latter, the 'Blessed relationship' has emerged, a convergence of technology, sexuality, and economics within a consumerist environment [14]. These relationships are characterised by young women seeking out men -known as the 'Blessers' -who are willing and able to satiate their material desires in exchange for a sexual relationship [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The motivation for a 'luxury' lifestyle versus a relationship motivated by survival, is the de ning feature of these blessed relationships [15]. Additionally, age disparity is not a prerequisite for blessed relationships, whereas sugar relationships are traditionally cross-generational [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining HIV Risk for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Relationships with “Blessers” and Age Disparate Partners: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Four Districts in South Africa

George

Beckett

Reddy

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundHIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remains high, with their male partners a prominent factor in sustaining these elevated rates. Partnership characteristics remain important metrics for determining HIV risk, with evidence indicating that AGYW engaged in transactional and age-disparate relationships facing greater HIV exposure. This study examines the risk posed to AGYW in a relationship with a “Blesser” only, defined as male who provides his female partner with their material needs or desires in exchange for a sexual relationship and age-disparate (5 or more years older).MethodsA cross -sectional household based representative sample of AGYW (aged between 12–24 years) were enrolled in the study (n=18 926) from the districts of City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni in the Gauteng province and the Districts of eThekwini and uMgungundlovu in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa between March 13, 2017 to June 22, 2018. Participants completed a structured questionnaire and provided finger-prick blood samples for laboratory measurements. Our analysis used descriptive statistics and multiple binary logistic regressions accounting for survey weights, clustering and stratification. FindingsWhilst all relationships exposed AGYW to potential HIV risk, multiple binary logistic regression analysis revealed that AGYW in a relationship with a Blesser and an age disparate partner were more likely to be HIV positive (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.76-5.53, p <0.001), diagnosed with an STI (AOR: 4.60, 95% CI: 2.99-7.08, p <0.001), had 2 or more sexual partners in the previous 12 (AOR: 6.37, 95% CI: 3.85-10.54, p <0.001), engaged in sexual activity at age 15 or younger (AOR: 3.67, 95% CI: 2.36-5.69, p <0.001) and more likely to have ever been pregnant (AOR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.24-5.45, p <0.05) than those not in a relationship with a Blesser and age-disparate partner. ConclusionDifferent relationships present different HIV to AGYW. AGYW who had engaged in relationships with both a Blesser and an age-disparate partner were at greater HIV risk when examined against these relationships independent of one another. The data reveals the compounded HIV risk of being in both a transactional and age-disparate relationship.

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“…There is a large body of social science research indicating that the leading cause of this increased HIV incidence in this gendered age group is as a result of young women having sex with older men (see West and Haddad). While 'sugar daddy' relationships have been the focus of research, the more recent turn to the 'blesser' phenomenon as a form of transactional sex is a more recent development with a growing focus within the field of social science (Hoss & Blockland 2018;Moodley & Ebrahim 2019;Tsoaledi, Tshilidzi & Rally 2017;Varjavandi 2017). Within the theological terrain there is also an increased focus, although more nuanced analysis is less forthcoming (Frieslaar & Masango 2021;Haddad 2018;Masenya 2017).…”

Section: Re-framing Women's Agency In #Blessed Sex: Intersectional Dilemmas For African Women's Theologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Re-framing women’s agency in #Blessed sex: Intersectional dilemmas for African women’s theologies

Haddad

2021

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

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#Blesser: A critical evaluation of conceptual antecedents and the allure of a transactional relationship

Cited by 10 publications

References 11 publications

Determining HIV risk for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in relationships with “Blessers” and age-disparate partners: a cross-sectional survey in four districts in South Africa

Determining HIV risk for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in relationships with “Blessers” and age-disparate partners: a cross-sectional survey in four districts in South Africa

Determining HIV Risk for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Relationships with “Blessers” and Age Disparate Partners: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Four Districts in South Africa

Re-framing women’s agency in #Blessed sex: Intersectional dilemmas for African women’s theologies

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