This short piece—part of an upcoming release for my latest book volume, and one (the post, not the book) that focuses partly on YouTubers Red Pen and Socialism for All (S4A) but also Revolutionaryth0t (when it comes to gender politics/double standards; see: footnotes)—addresses criticisms and endorsements of Chinese Socialism "keeping capital in a bird cage" (say nothing of sex work). S4A uses that term when they critique the Chinese and their "first stage of Socialism" being "arbitrary" (according to them; re: "S4A Livestream #131: Deprogram on China," 2026)—meaning after Mao's "pure Socialism," and subsequent Sino-Soviet Split, Great Chinese Feminine and Cultural Revolution; i.e., "it is better to be poor under Socialism than rich under Capitalism." Red Pen counters—thought not directly to S4A—in his own excellent "A Critique of Western Marxism" (2026): "I can't wait to see Red Pen face off against S4A," says one commentor. "Let them fight," I feel tempted to reply.

I will quickly comment here, but don't know enough on Deng and his successors to speak at length (though neither does S4A, if memory serves). Apart from a short hit piece on Mao (re: "Mao's Vampirism: Bad Empanada's Favorite Dictator?" from "Raising Awareness," 2025)—and some footnotes on Mao and Dengism (re: "Leaving the Closet," 2024)—I haven't actually spent much time on Chinese Socialism; i.e., versus Western Marxism and Stalinism/de-Stalinized Soviet Marxist-Leninism (re: "Raising Awareness" but also "Understanding Vampires" and "State Vampirism," 2024 and 2026). Even so, I did have a recent exchange that sums it up, which I want to include here; i.e., based off an argument had in the comments section to Red Pen's aforementioned video (who I enjoy for being more critical of Stalin than S4A[1] admittedly is). Much of it is uploaded, piecemeal, in skeets and YouTube community posts. So, here, I have consolidated said exchange's entirety.

P.S., I generally enjoy Red Pen's essays critiquing Soviet Russia (e.g., "Women at War: Communism," 2025). Likewise, S4A is someone who—while I disagree with their frankly Stalinist views (and rejection of anarcho-Communism; re: "21st Century Capitalist Crisis," 2025; timestamp: 2:33)—I nonetheless appreciate some of their critiques of Dengism[2] (re: "Livestream #131"), but also their reading of so much older ML literature in full while annotating it (no small feat). But as Revolutionyth0t[3] says, "Lenin wasn't a god" while still highlighting the value in sex work and minority rights; i.e., in ways Lenin didn't discount ("Are You Actually Revolutionary or Just Performative?"; timestamp: 6:49, below). None of these men (or their critics) are above critique, so kill your darlings accordingly!

 P.P.S., My critiques of Marxist-Leninism as being historically sexist, transphobic and whorephobic, etc, already exist in "Raising Awareness" and "State Vampirism." There are some additional critiques like this one in Volume Four's paratextual materials, "Yesterday's Leftover Rice" (2026); i.e., the nation-wide porn ban in China being deeply conservative—meaning in ways that leave sex workers relegated to the margins until/maybe when "true Communism" happens (similar to queer people; re: "Making Marx Gay," 2024). This remains an incredibly dubious proposition, and one I would absolutely critique to the same degree as any other Socialist state, past or present. Sex work is work/queer people are people and anything else is fascist (whores and fags don't want to be "latter-day Socialist DLC"; i.e., despite being treated as "inherently pornographic" in China, Russia and America, we can/do exist in earlier stages of development). The spirit of my doing so is de facto peer review, turning bad actors into object lessons (while avoiding Sinophobia and Orientalism, neither infantilizing nor demonizing the Chinese).

Disclaimers

"The Price of Rice"" is part of my Sex Positivity book series, which continues after its June 2025 finale in small-form content; e.g., essays on and interviews with other sex workers, all of whom I credit on my Acknowledgments pages and Sex Work page. This piece doesn't focus on sex work itself, but widespread exploitation; i.e., in a shared predatory system, "whoring nature (and workers) out" in highly abject ways.

(artist, left: Bay Ryan; right: Persephone van der Waard)

For the Visually Impaired: I will be reading this essay out loud on my YouTube channel.

Disclaimer Regarding Essay Contents: All opinions are my own; i.e., as part of my research, conducted alongside my book series, Gothic Communism (2023). The material within is written/speaks about public figures and popular media for purposes of (sex) education, satire, transformation and critique, hence falls under Fair Use regarding copyright and free speech regarding defamation/obscenity laws (the Miller Test; source: Justice.gov). Click here for my entire series disclaimer. Lastly many of the links on this page lead to my age-gated 18+ website where my entire work on Gothic Communism is stored and exhibited.

CW: transphobia, whorephobia

Regarding Criticisms of China: Before we start, I will say that I am critical of certain Chinese habits—e.g., poor environmentalism and homophobia (re: "hooliganism"; see: "Leaving the Closet")—but, again, am less familiar with Dengism and Xi Jinping than Stalin's bullshit. I have heard Parenti[4] describe Chinese Socialism as "nominal Communism," in Blackshirts and Reds (1997): "While the Chinese government continues under a nominally communist leadership, the process of private capital penetration goes on more or less unhindered" (source). And likewise, I know the Chinese do Imperialism versus the Soviets and Russian Federation that sees them funding Isis and Israel (re: Real Time History and S4A). However, I won't focus on that, here, but might write future essays on modern, post-Mao China.

Essay Body/the Exchange

I digress. The conversation happened in the comments to Red Pen's video, "A Critique of Western Marxism" (shown here alongside visual aids):

Me: Trans woman an-Com activist and academic. I've been a pretty big critic of ML and Western Marxism when it comes to the treatment of women, sex workers and BIPOC; e.g., S4A and Bad Empanada (and those who work with him). I think there are elements to critique in any approach, and some more than others. / I enjoyed your videos on women in Socialism and fascism, in particular. I would love to interview you sometime if you'd like to talk more on women's rights, queer and sex worker rights.

WhatAreYouMadeOf: Was there something S4A said or did that reflects a lack of care or misogyny in regard to the treatment of women, sex workers and BIPOC?

Me: His reading of and defending Stalin, for starters (whose regime alongside the other Soviet leaders betrayed women, queer folk and other minorities). / Also, his reading of Kollontai's "Prostitution and Ways of Fighting It" (1921), [which I've responded to previously and the entirely of which appears in] "Raising Awareness" of my "State Vampirism" series critiquing reactionary/moderate MLs):

Sex work is work. Calling it "prostitution" demonizes it under a criminal lens, monopolizing care and sex work for the state. Also Kollontai lived in exile under Stalin after he and company killed her compatriots:

With the defeat of the Workers' Opposition Kollontai appeared to give up her fight for reform and for women, retreating into relative obscurity. With the rise of Stalin her life became one of de facto exile, although formally she was USSR diplomat for Mexico and Norway before settling in Sweden. She was thus the first female diplomat in western history. Dying of natural causes in 1952, Kollontai was the only member of the Workers' Opposition to survive the purges [emphasis, me]. She lived the last 20 years of her life in constant fear of assassination or imprisonment (source: Jenny Morrison's "Women on the left: Alexandra Kollontai," 2012).

A pimp's a pimp. SWERFs are pimps or victims to pimps (source YouTube community post, Persephone van der Waard: January 30th, 2025).

Comrade Merquise: [S]o you don't like China either? Pornography and prostitution is illegal there because it's considered inherently exploitative by the government. / I'll have to go listen to those readings and pay extra close attention to the commentary, but I know S4A and BE are both trans allies. S4A has streams in which he mentions, covers, and supports trans and queer people from years ago. The idea that S4A is a traitor to women or the queer community seems pretty absurd on its face.

Me: BE is NOT a trans ally (re: "Raising Awareness" [the YouTube version]). / As for China and its own queerphobia history ("hooliganism") and anti-porn laws, I would critique them like any state (Socialist or otherwise).

As for S4A, he's not as inclusive as he seems. Anyone can say they're inclusive or speak out against open bigotry while excluding the people they claim to defend. In my case, he blocked me as a critic of Stalin's transphobia, doing so in the middle of ICE in Minneapolis (see: exhibit 0 from "Unto the Breach," 2026). Kind of fucked up.

As I wrote about that at the time: Followed S4A's content for a while. Was watching his critique of The Deprogrammed and enjoyed it:

He told viewers to message on Bluesky if they had questions. Lo and behold I am blocked! Never had a conversation with him so I wonder why. Maybe it's my work on Stalin? 1/2

If I'm wrong on the Soviet treatment of queer folk and women, please critique my work. In fact, I wanted to ask him for some texts that might challenge my own thesis! Feels a bit SWERF-y/TERF-y—especially since he says he takes comments from different Marxists/non-Marxists.

Not me, I guess! 2/2 [source skeet, vanderWaardart: 3/19/2026).

Merquise: I can't DM him either because he doesn't follow me? It's honestly super weird you've jumped to the conclusion that he blocked you...and isn't an ally. that's wild.

Me: Further context to that being that he DOESN'T block people by his own account and that I was going to him to ask for sources/feedback and reading material after watching a stream of his where he explained to viewers how to reach him. So I reached out, looking for feedback/thoughts. Yet, he had blocked me without every meeting me, which frankly felt odd. / Also, I know he blocked me... because it says he blocked my account. XD

Merquise: Your takes are interesting to say the least. You call yourself an ancom, but you sound like a liberal / lolbertarian. Referring to "Prostitution and Ways of Fighting It" as SWERF is an odd choice as was your posting of our exchanges on bluesky and making community posts on youtube about it, and posting me on your website. Extremely odd behavior.

Do you honestly think it better for children and homeless women to be forced into prostitution rather than trained in trades? Very odd take. I'm not opposed to SW, but the idea that women should be forced or coerced into selling their bodies for clothes, food, promotions, and or shelter instead of working any other job is an extremely odd one.

Me: Women make records of abusive creeps. You're being a creep/acting like a pimp. It's not that hard to understand. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

"I'm not opposed to SW, but the idea that women should be forced or coerced into selling their bodies for clothes, food, promotions, and or shelter instead of working any other job is an extremely odd one." Yes, and a strawman that YOU'RE making. I never said women (or those treated like women) should be "forced" to do anything. Quite the opposite, I said they should be allowed to do sex work IF they want; i.e., versus being forced into the household by the state exploiting care/sex work as unpaid labor (clearly you didn't read what I wrote).

Any-who, you're obviously bad faith/massively dumb (or both, most like). I'm gonna mute you, make record of this last bit (for posterity), and get on with my life. Take care!

Just my thoughts and feelings about a side of Socialism I have critiqued less than some; i.e., the Chinese pornography and prostitution bans are gross, as are ongoing attacks on queer rights despite decriminalizing homosexuality in 1997 and removal as a mental disorder in 2001—and homophobia and nationalism historically go hand-in-hand, punching down at queerness as "Western[5]" and "degenerate"; re: the state is straight and male (re: "Understanding Vampires"). We'll see how things shake out, in the future!

(source: Matt Walsh's "Why Chinese Nationalists Have a Homophobia Problem")

Footnotes

[1] Who doesn't like being called a Stalinist. If the shoe fits…

[2] And making me aware of others; e.g., Red Spectre's "Against Dengism."

[3] A bit of a YouTuber darling who, while I enjoy their essays, recognize they also work with people who platform Bad Empanada (re: "Raising Awareness"). And the lack of pushback on their discussing of sex work, minority rights and GNC people hasn't escaped my notice. I suppose they're better about shaking hands and kissing babies (rubbing elbows) than I am. I don't kiss ass; I call it like I see it.

Even so, there's definitely a double standard, with Thot; i.e., trans women are treated like whores (men in dresses), but Th0t's placed on a Kollontai-esque pedestal—mainly because, as far as I understand it, they don't actually do sex work, themselves (and don't rock the boat as much as I do). Just an observation. Many MLs are comfy talking about these things in abstract, but when they actually encounter a sex worker/trans woman critical of Socialism (as being exclusionary of unpaid labor)—meaning in ways that don't deify Marx, Stalin and Mao, etc—they can grow reliably curt, nasty and deceptive; re:

This is not transphobic. Socialism is a historical necessity in the genuine liberation of LGBTQ+ people everywhere (not just in the first world) and only Marxism[-]Leninism can achieve and maintain Socialism. Sex Work is also inherently awful and demeaning, the majority of prostitutes are forced into it because they have literally no other option and if you do it willingly you are participating in a system that brings down your gender as all pornography is inherently harmful to society and to human happiness. Neither Pornography or any over form of "Sex Work" (Sexual Slavery) will exist under Communism (source: comments for YouTube Community post: Persephone van der Waard, 1/29/2026).

In other words, not all Commies are alike, and "uppity tranny gets lambasted for taking a blowtorch to other Commie's sacred cows" is par for the course. I ain't no Goldilocks. Then again, Th0t strikes me as a bit toothless (as many YouTubers do); i.e., when it comes to actually critiquing the people she works alongside. Instead, they "play the game," as it were (a bit of a chameleon). They make YouTube videos (and money); I write books, and generally irreverent, iconoclastic ones.

[4] Ironic, given Red Pen cites Parenti to defend China. But academia is often a shop for broken clocks (and Parenti a Western Marxist). That being said, I like how they mention Rockhill's Who Paid the Pipers of Western Marxism? (2025).

[5] Obscurantism from the Eastern side of the coin. Writes Matt Walsh (not that Matt) in "Why Chinese Nationalists Have a Homophobia Problem," 2017):

Last week, a women's basketball coach at a central Chinese university posted a photograph online showing two students holding an anti-gay banner on school grounds. "Keep homosexuality far from the university campus," it read, the golden characters and red background calling to mind the colors of China's national flag. "Protect Chinese traditional mores. Defend core socialist values. Resist corrosion from decadent Western thoughts" (ibid.).

The point being, protests happen because of repression; i.e., which dates back—for China—many centuries, explains The Gay Bizz:

The first "anti-gay" law that we see in China dates from the Song dynasty (about a thousand years after this, during the Zhenghe era 1111-1118); […] Westernisation also would seem to explain why homosexuality became more and more stigmatised during the time of the Self-Strengthening movement, which focused on Westernising China, and throughout the late Qing and Republican period. The Western view of homosexuality as pathological, feminine and weak cast the Chinese homosexual tradition as part of a fundamental weakness of "effete" and "weak" Chinese culture, to be swept aside and replaced if China wanted to survive and compete with the West. This was connected to the common stereotype of Chinese men as effeminate. Just after the collapse of the Qing, protests were staged by actors against the master-servant system which had often led to exploitative same-sex liaisons. During the Mao era, homosexuality was seen as a form of deviant sexuality in a world where sex was strictly for procreation, but this had more to do with Communist ideas of the family as a cell of society [re: Patel and Moore's "16th century ecology" and John the Duncan's "universal class subject" as white, male, straight and paid; see: "State Vampirism" footnote 1 and "A [Gothicist] Responds to 'Woke Is Dead'"; re: timestamp: 2:18:02].

On the face of it, then, Westernisation seems to be the major factor behind the termination of the Chinese homosexual tradition. However, it is important to remember the currents of homophobia that ran through Chinese society long before the West arrived on the scene. Societal movements do not tend to come out of nowhere; if there was a genuine desire among the Chinese population for the diminishment of LGBTQ relationships, this was probably not just suddenly prompted by the arrival of the West (source, Reddit: r/AskHistorian's "Is Homophobia in China Primarily a Result of Western Influence or Did It Have Any Homegrown Component?" 2020)

Furthermore, much of queerphobia exists in media, and not just in China; e.g., Japan; re: "Room for Both: Horror and Social Commentary in Three Japanese Classics" (2018); i.e., the state controls sex in heteronormative ways that—similar to the West and its own Ancient Canonical Codes growing more aggressive under capital/the Protestant ethic—existed, in some shape or form, in China before western interference. Queerness is alien: something to pimp and police by national forces that, under fascism, merge with corporations and the market to pimp nature (re: state vampirism). Queerness and sex work are just another contradiction within those forces, one China stigmatizes and kettles like their Western counterparts (re: nature is monstrous-feminine, something to pimp for productivity and profit).