Definition

1. Noun:
   • A woman sold into prostitution: The term specifically refers to a woman who is forced into prostitution, often through deception, coercion, or trafficking, particularly across international borders. This term is historical and carries strong negative connotations.

Usage

• The term is used to describe a specific, severe form of exploitation. It is considered dated and is often replaced in modern contexts by terms like "victim of sex trafficking" or "trafficked person," which are more precise and less sensationalistic.
• It is typically used in historical, legal, or sociological discussions about forced prostitution and human trafficking.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The novel depicted the tragic story of a white slave taken to another continent.
  • Early 20th-century laws aimed to combat the white slave trade.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is part of the historical term "white slave traffic" or "white slavery," which referred to the transnational prostitution trade, particularly involving women from Western countries. This usage is now considered archaic.
  • International conventions were established to suppress white slave traffic.

Variants and Related Words

• White slavery (n): The historical practice or trade of forcing women, especially white women, into prostitution.
  • The movement against white slavery led to new international laws.

Synonyms

• Victim of sex trafficking: A more modern and accurate term for a person coerced into commercial sex acts.
• Trafficked person: A general term for someone who has been traded or transported for exploitation.

Notes on Usage

• The term 'white slave' is highly sensitive and outdated. Its use today can be seen as offensive or racially charged, as it historically emphasized the race of the victim in a way that modern terminology avoids. Contemporary language focuses on the crime of trafficking rather than the victim's race.
• It is recommended to use terms like "victim of human trafficking" or "survivor of sex trafficking" in most modern contexts.

Noun

1. a woman sold into prostitution