'Eventually I wanted something more': sexual self-reflections of South African women engaged in transactional sexual relationships with blessers.

The term 'blesser' emerged from social media in South Africa, typically denoting an older man who provides a younger woman with money and/or luxury items in exchange for sex. Within an increasingly consumerist culture, such transactional sexual relationships hold powerful appeal, and remain highly prevalent. An estimated one in three Black South African women have engaged in transactional sex. While these liaisons are associated with negative health outcomes for women, especially in high HIV prevalence settings, attention to how they affect Black women's sexuality is under-studied-especially with respect to emotional and sexual development-an important part of sexual rights and wellbeing. We used qualitative methods to investigate 22 women's experiences with blessers. A sexual rights framework was utilised to explore human rights dimensions. We found women's rights to engage in consensual sex, pursue sexual pleasure and ensure their bodily integrity were compromised. Many participants recognised the psychological costs and limitations of engaging in blesser relationships. Women communicated that they realised such partnerships failed to meet their emotional and relationship needs. Against the backdrop of structural gender inequality, Black South African women's narratives should inform research, programmes and educational interventions aimed at advancing women's sexual development, rights and wellbeing.

When Social and Personal Norms Collide: Narratives of South African Women Navigating Transactional Sexual Relationships with Blessers.

Due to the negative implications of transactional sexual relationships (TSRs) for women's sexual and reproductive health, studies of social norms in sub-Saharan and South Africa have sought to inform HIV-related risk and interventions in this key population. To date, however, little research has investigated the normative conflicts facing women in African settings when initiating, continuing or abstaining from participation in TSRs. In 2017-2018, we investigated conflicts black South African women in KwaZulu-Natal expressed between adhering to social versus personal norms in TSRs with "blessers"-wealthy men who gift women financially or materially-typically in exchange for sex. Participants expressed conflicts between social norms of blesser engagement to satisfy aspirations for money/material items vs. personal norms of retaining virginity and fidelity to partners. Women largely ignored adverse sexual health risks of HIV and unintended pregnancy. Participants highlighted internal conflicts, prompting reflection on their desires, choices and normative behaviors, also informing women's self-concept, self-efficacy and desires for relationship satisfaction. Greater reflection from women about personal norms and values-and attention to their self-efficacy in relationships-may assist in understanding and advancing women's holistic health and wellbeing in research and interventions among this population and potentially women in other settings.