Is the “blesser” phenomena indirect prostitution or a relationship?
Various voices debate on the notion of blessers, a new subculture where a blesser (he or she who has money) gets to sponser the lifestyle of the blessed person, he or she who receives such services.
Social media has been buzzing over the latest “Blesser” sensation. The commotion follows the revelation that a young woman had been seeking payment in exchange for sex from a prospective sponsor for a trip to Dubai recently.
https://twitter.com/BlessersInc/status/719848827755343872
Rekord spoke to Dr. Ramodungoane Tabane, a senior lecturer from the psychology of education faculty at the University of South Africa (Unisa) on the topic of blessers.
Dr. Tabane said the whole process of the blesser and the blessed was based on each one’s interests.
“The blesser has money and wants to spend it so to boost their ego because they are facing marital problems in their home while the person who is being blessed wants to receive money so they can keep up with a certain lifestyle,” Tabane said.
He explained that such relationships were doomed and short-lived because they were never based on emotion but only on physical attributes.
“These relationships are empty and transactional. The person whose lifestyle is sponsored is replaced like a commodity by their blesser,” Tabane said.
He said these relationships also did not leave room for any form of negotiation. More especially when it came to taking control of one’s sexuality.
“A blesser can dictate if they want to use protection or not. This also makes it harder for the person who is blessed to question their blesser. It opens room for unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other diseases,” Tabane said.
BlesserInc, Blesserfinder and Blesserfinder Mzansi have used Twitter and Facebook respectively to assist those willing to bless or be blessed.
https://twitter.com/Blesserfinder/status/724972299217190912
Rekord spoke to Nandi* (not her real name) a 29-year-old woman from Hamaanskraal who posted her comment on one of the blesser social media pages seeking a blesser.
Nandi said she regretted providing her contact details on Facebook as her potential blesser was rude to her on WhatsApp, demanding nude pictures of her in exchange for being blessed.
“I am not interested in it anymore because they (blessers) demanded naked photos from me and they were rude to me when I refused. They made me feel like I was a prostitute and I’m not,” said Nandi.
Stanley* (surname withheld) denied that he was a blesser and said he was called by several women who wanted to be blessed by him.
“I am not a blesser, neither do I know anything about this whole thing. My number must have landed there by mistake,” he said.
BlesserInc, Blesserfinder and Blesserfinder Mzansi were unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
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