Disagree, mostly.
Here are the two main definitions of the term.
1. the state or condition of being a slave; a civil relationship whereby one person has absolute power over another and controls his life, liberty, and fortune
2. the subjection of a person to another person, esp in being forced into work
"Civil relationship" means a legally enforceable one, which means I'm using the primary definition. You're using the secondary definition.
Which to my mind means I'm being more accurate than you are.
I realize these the authorities often know such operations are ongoing and don't do much about it, but if a young lady walks into the police station with reporters in tow and files a complaint, I strongly suspect that in almost all US jurisdictions it will be acted on.
IOW, the absence of aggressive enforcement is largely the result of lethargy on the part of officials, not a concious decision to permit the practice to continue.
Also, unfortunately, in many cases a lack of concern since those affected are The Other, and in some cases PC attitudes of not wanting to "impose our standards on other cultures."
All the defintions in my dictionary (Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language) are:
1. the owning of slaves as a practice or institution
2. the condition of a slave; bondage
3. a condition of domination by some influence, habit, etc.
4. drudgery; toil
Don’t see anything about a legally enforced relationship between 2 persons.
Nontheless, slavery is not “legal” in this country. It was abolished over 100 years ago, thank the Lord.
There are many reasons for the lethargy...one includes bribery. I doubt that many of these young girls would walk into a police station with reporters in tow, most of them fear for their lives and there is no way of escape.
Reality.