The term "white slave trade" refers to the practice of forcing women into prostitution. The spelling of this term is straightforward, with each word spelled phonetically: /waɪt/ and /sleɪv/ /treɪd/. The IPA phonetic transcription shows that the "h" in "white" is silent, and the "t" in "slave" is pronounced as a glottal stop (a very brief pause). The term has been criticised for its racist implications, as it suggests that white women are more valuable than women of other races.
The term "white slave trade" refers to a historical practice that involved the trafficking and forced enslavement of European women and girls for sexual exploitation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Also known as the "traffic in women," it primarily targeted women and girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The victims were often lured from their homes under false pretenses such as employment opportunities or marriage prospects, only to be sold into a life of sexual bondage and servitude. They were transported across borders and continents, predominantly to meet the demand for prostitutes in brothels, particularly in regions undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization.
The term "white slave trade" originated from the belief that European women's vulnerability to exploitation represented a contrast to the prevailing notion that white women were inherently superior and less susceptible to enslavement. This perception contributed to the sensationalization and moral panic surrounding the trafficking of these women.
Efforts to combat the white slave trade gained momentum in the early 20th century with the establishment of international agreements and legislation. The term eventually fell into disuse, with contemporary discussions on human trafficking adopting more comprehensive and inclusive language.
It is crucial to note that the term "white slave trade" should not be confused with the transatlantic slave trade, which involved the forced enslavement of African people for labor purposes.