Uncovering the Truth Behind Blesser Culture: Financial Dependence, GBV & Youth Vulnerability

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In this powerful episode of The Social Impact Show, Sam Marshall sits down with Lucia Mohale, Helpline Consultant and GBV Social Worker at the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, to unpack a deeply troubling reality: intergenerational sexual relationships between older men and young girls, often glamorised as "blesser-blessy" relationships.

As part of the NSMSA’s Workers’ Month campaign, this conversation dives into the complex intersections of poverty, gender-based violence, social influence, and power dynamics. Lucia reveals how these relationships are rooted in manipulation, financial dependence, and isolation, often leaving young women with long-term emotional, physical, and economic consequences.

🎙️ Listen in as we explore:
The rise of these exploitative relationships in South Africa
The dangerous glamorisation of “blesser culture” on social media
How poverty, family dynamics, and societal pressures drive young women into harmful relationships
The urgent need for awareness, education, and community support
This is not just a conversation — it’s a call to action.
7 May English South Africa Business · Non-Profit

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