ser
vi
tude
1
a condition in which individuals are forced to work or provide services against their will, without the ability to freely leave or negotiate their conditions
- Many immigrants in the early 20th century faced servitude in sweatshops, enduring grueling hours for minimal pay.
- The practice of debt bondage often traps individuals in servitude, where their labor is used to repay debts that grow faster than they can be paid off.
- Despite legal prohibitions, instances of domestic servitude still persist in some households, exploiting vulnerable workers who have limited recourse.
- The abolition of chattel slavery marked a significant victory in the fight against servitude, though forms of coerced labor continue to challenge human rights advocates.
- Human trafficking victims often suffer from prolonged periods of servitude, subjected to physical and psychological abuse.