I would say that your conception of the "left" here is quite chronically American. I can assure you that no respectable "leftist" that hates Democrats, Kamala Bros and all the idpol self-hating liberals is a sex industry apologist. Yes, protecting sex workers and fighting against SWERFs is important. But fighting against SWERFs does not equal being pro-sex industry. Being pro sex-work is being pro-worker, protecting vulnerable people in the industry and combating reactionary discourse (inside the Marxist left as well) which deems sex workers as either petit-bourgeois, or lumpen-proletariat.
The "American Left" is liberal center-right almost anywhere else on the planet, and frankly, sometimes closer to the far-right than the center in terms of economic policy. You cannot convince me that a Kamala Bro which is okay with projects such as Cop City is a leftist in any shape or form. That's just a misguided liberal on their way to become a full fascist. This is a critique of the liberal pro-sex work crowd, not of the left. The left is guilty of other things (such as fetishizing sex work, or considering it some sort of oppression badge which grants someone immunity from being wrong), but very rarely is an actual leftist guilty of being a sex industry apologist (unless they're a dude that just happens to be a sex buyer as well as an alleged "leftist").
Thank you! I'd also add that the article repeatedly identified capital as the problem, here with rich individuals and the institutions that serve them explicitly named as both the consumers and the traffickers, names the vulnerable as immigrants, and yet the rhetorical energy is directed at blaming 'the left'? As you say, show me a socialist who is pro-CIA, pro Larry King or Epstein, or who thinks the wider Hollywood industry (which Porn is the dark twin to) are all great, actually.
I see this constantly on substack and I think you're right that it's more prevalent from US commentators - identifying grotesque effects of capital and then blaming it on 'the left' where 'extremly rich right wing politicians who once said something in support of BLM' is taken as 'the Left' and the disorganised remnants of the actual left don't even exist anymore. Which may point to one of the propaganda problems for the left, here, in that socialism has simultaneously been demonised as the theft of your wealth *and* identical to billionaires who wear rainbow shoelaces during pride.
This article is impeccable at explaining why all Marxists should be against the “sex industry”. I do think some on the Left misdirect their criticism towards those working in it or entrapped, thus the liberal pushback and reclamation of “sex work being empowering”. As someone with loved one’s who have been in the sex industry, they’re incredible people and will often tell you themselves exactly what this article says here! All ire needs to be directed towards pimps and John’s, the fact that it’s even conceivable to anyone that they have a right to buy sex from someone is crazy and shows how lost our society is.
I would say that your conception of the "left" here is quite chronically American. I can assure you that no respectable "leftist" that hates Democrats, Kamala Bros and all the idpol self-hating liberals is a sex industry apologist. Yes, protecting sex workers and fighting against SWERFs is important. But fighting against SWERFs does not equal being pro-sex industry. Being pro sex-work is being pro-worker, protecting vulnerable people in the industry and combating reactionary discourse (inside the Marxist left as well) which deems sex workers as either petit-bourgeois, or lumpen-proletariat.
The "American Left" is liberal center-right almost anywhere else on the planet, and frankly, sometimes closer to the far-right than the center in terms of economic policy. You cannot convince me that a Kamala Bro which is okay with projects such as Cop City is a leftist in any shape or form. That's just a misguided liberal on their way to become a full fascist. This is a critique of the liberal pro-sex work crowd, not of the left. The left is guilty of other things (such as fetishizing sex work, or considering it some sort of oppression badge which grants someone immunity from being wrong), but very rarely is an actual leftist guilty of being a sex industry apologist (unless they're a dude that just happens to be a sex buyer as well as an alleged "leftist").
Thank you! I'd also add that the article repeatedly identified capital as the problem, here with rich individuals and the institutions that serve them explicitly named as both the consumers and the traffickers, names the vulnerable as immigrants, and yet the rhetorical energy is directed at blaming 'the left'? As you say, show me a socialist who is pro-CIA, pro Larry King or Epstein, or who thinks the wider Hollywood industry (which Porn is the dark twin to) are all great, actually.
I see this constantly on substack and I think you're right that it's more prevalent from US commentators - identifying grotesque effects of capital and then blaming it on 'the left' where 'extremly rich right wing politicians who once said something in support of BLM' is taken as 'the Left' and the disorganised remnants of the actual left don't even exist anymore. Which may point to one of the propaganda problems for the left, here, in that socialism has simultaneously been demonised as the theft of your wealth *and* identical to billionaires who wear rainbow shoelaces during pride.
THANK YOU!
This article is impeccable at explaining why all Marxists should be against the “sex industry”. I do think some on the Left misdirect their criticism towards those working in it or entrapped, thus the liberal pushback and reclamation of “sex work being empowering”. As someone with loved one’s who have been in the sex industry, they’re incredible people and will often tell you themselves exactly what this article says here! All ire needs to be directed towards pimps and John’s, the fact that it’s even conceivable to anyone that they have a right to buy sex from someone is crazy and shows how lost our society is.