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The Path to the Soft Life: Exploring the Blesser Phenomenon in South Africa

Höjer, Maya Sofia LU (2023) UTVK03 20231
Sociology
Abstract
South Africa has one of the highest incidences of HIV in the world and young women are disproportionately affected. Scholars have pointed to the practice of Transactional Sexual Relationships (TSR) as a driving force behind HIV incidences among young women. However, research devoted towards understanding TSR and why women engage in these relationships remains debated. In 2016, the Blesser-phenomena, a type of TSR, surfaced on South African social media, but is yet to receive sufficient and comprehensive scholarly attention. Given the
contested findings of TSR and limited research on the Blesser-phenomena, further exploration is fundamental. Blessers are often identified as older and wealthy men who provide financial and material resources... (More)
South Africa has one of the highest incidences of HIV in the world and young women are disproportionately affected. Scholars have pointed to the practice of Transactional Sexual Relationships (TSR) as a driving force behind HIV incidences among young women. However, research devoted towards understanding TSR and why women engage in these relationships remains debated. In 2016, the Blesser-phenomena, a type of TSR, surfaced on South African social media, but is yet to receive sufficient and comprehensive scholarly attention. Given the
contested findings of TSR and limited research on the Blesser-phenomena, further exploration is fundamental. Blessers are often identified as older and wealthy men who provide financial and material resources to younger women, identified as Blesses, in exchange for sex or companionship. The aim of this thesis is therefore to gain insight as to how women characterize Blesser-relationships and motivate their engagement in them. Thus, contributing with
information that may be valuable for policymakers and researchers concerned with the broader HIV-endemic in South Africa. Based on empirical data collected through in-depth interviews with South African women who have first-hand experience of Blesser-relationships, Bourdieu’s Theory of Capital and Social Exchange Theory are used to analyze the motivations and characteristics. Findings suggest that women’s motivations to engage are predominantly rooted
in a desire for economic support. Furthermore, an aspiration for a prestigious lifestyle was found to be a central motivation, commonly showcased on social media as a “Soft Life”. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Höjer, Maya Sofia LU
supervisor
organization
course
UTVK03 20231
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Transactional Sexual Relationships, Blesser, Blesse, HIV, South Africa
language
English
id
9120661
date added to LUP
2023-06-20 10:58:47
date last changed
2023-06-20 10:58:47
@misc{9120661,
  abstract     = {{South Africa has one of the highest incidences of HIV in the world and young women are disproportionately affected. Scholars have pointed to the practice of Transactional Sexual Relationships (TSR) as a driving force behind HIV incidences among young women. However, research devoted towards understanding TSR and why women engage in these relationships remains debated. In 2016, the Blesser-phenomena, a type of TSR, surfaced on South African social media, but is yet to receive sufficient and comprehensive scholarly attention. Given the
contested findings of TSR and limited research on the Blesser-phenomena, further exploration is fundamental. Blessers are often identified as older and wealthy men who provide financial and material resources to younger women, identified as Blesses, in exchange for sex or companionship. The aim of this thesis is therefore to gain insight as to how women characterize Blesser-relationships and motivate their engagement in them. Thus, contributing with
information that may be valuable for policymakers and researchers concerned with the broader HIV-endemic in South Africa. Based on empirical data collected through in-depth interviews with South African women who have first-hand experience of Blesser-relationships, Bourdieu’s Theory of Capital and Social Exchange Theory are used to analyze the motivations and characteristics. Findings suggest that women’s motivations to engage are predominantly rooted
in a desire for economic support. Furthermore, an aspiration for a prestigious lifestyle was found to be a central motivation, commonly showcased on social media as a “Soft Life”.}},
  author       = {{Höjer, Maya Sofia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Path to the Soft Life: Exploring the Blesser Phenomenon in South Africa}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}