title: Perceptions of sugar mommy practices in South Africa.
abstract: The study sought to explore sugar mommy practices regarding their occurrence, acceptability as well as perceived reasons why older women and younger men enter into sugar mommy relationships. An exploratory qualitative study involving 135 participants from 11 diverse focus groups in terms of age, gender (females=27%) and geotype throughout the nine South African provinces was conducted. Data on the participants' views, opinions and experiences of sugar mommy practices were collected using focus group interviews. The data were thematically analyzed. The study found that sugar mommy practices were prevalent in South Africa. The perceived reasons for acceptability were: love, survival, and correctness. Perceived reasons why older women have sexual relationships with younger men included: sexual fulfilment, domination, reduction of stress, physical attraction, procreation, lack of self-control, youthful feeling, migrancy, difficulty in finding partners of compatible age and young men being seen as not demanding. Perceived reasons why younger men have sexual relationships with older women included: material gain, reduction of stress, being enticed, rejection by women of compatible age, peer influence and belief that older women are purer. Given the increase in sugar mommy practices, which may have significant implications for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, it is necessary to understand the underlying perceptions of these practices, in order to develop culturally relevant and socially acceptable intervention programmes.
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa ; Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University , Port Elizabeth , South Africa.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Phaswana-Mafuya
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa.
authors.forename: Olive
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shisana
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa.
authors.forename: Adlai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davids
authors.affiliation: University of the Witwatersrand , Johannesburg , South Africa.
authors.forename: Cily
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tabane
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mbelle
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matseke
authors.affiliation: University of Venda , Thohoyandou , South Africa.
authors.forename: Mercy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banyini
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council , South Africa.
authors.forename: Queen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Kekana
keywords: South Africa; intergenerational; older women; sexual transactions; sugar mommies; younger men