Sex for money: the harm that ‘blessers’ can do to young women

A “BLESSER” is typically an older, relatively wealthier man who provides a younger woman with money, gifts, school fees or lifestyle access in exchange for a relationship that includes sex.

- GAVIN GEORGE

Similar arrangements exist around the world, often called “sugar-daddy” relationships, but the South African version is closely tied to extreme inequality, youth unemployment, and a culture in which conspicuous consumption carries strong social currency. As a result, “blesser” has become a mainstream, even aspirational term among some young women, particularly in urban settings.

South Africa ranks as the most unequal country in the world, characterised by high unemployment rates and poverty, especially among young people (aged 15-24). Getting a “blesser” is an opportunity to gain access to a new social level, and often includes tangibles such as smartphones, clothing and money.

On the surface, transactional relationships can feel like a shortcut to independence or status. However, new evidence shows that these relationships come at a high cost.

As a researcher in health economics, social medicine, psychology and mental health, I have been studying transactional sexual relationships in South Africa for a number of years.

In a recent study, my colleagues and I presented the first national analysis of how relationships with blessers shape sexual health outcomes for adolescent girls and young women in South Africa.

These relationships expose young women to interrelated risks, including HIV infection, early pregnancy and gender-based violence. The risks all interact and reinforce one another within contexts of inequality and limited agency.

These patterns mirror other recent data showing that adolescent girls and young women in South Africa are twice as likely to be living with HIV as their male peers.

Research over the years has shown that the drivers of this gap include biological vulnerability, gender-power imbalances, economic dependence and age-disparate sexual partnerships. While blesser relationships may offer short-term rewards, the long-term consequences for health and well-being are severe.