Slavery Slaves, serfs, apprentices and property rights Professors Robert Lee and Gad Heuman on the European legal context for abolishing slavery Captives being brought on board a slave ship on the west coast of Africa. While it is true that the apprenticeship system was often harsh for women, it also offered them more opportunities than slavery. Under the terms of the system, apprentices had the right to buy themselves out of apprenticeship and thereby gain full freedom. Female apprentices did so in significant numbers – in fact, considerately more so than male apprentices. Emeritus Professor Gad HeumanDepartment of History,University of Warwick• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

Source: The Guardian February 19, 2018 17:26 UTC