Newsweek's "How the Media Treat Murder" ignores men

Submitted by Matt on Fri, 2009-10-23 18:46

Article here. Excerpt:

'Ten women have been found slain or have been declared missing in Rocky Mount, N.C., in recent years. But the rest of the country hasn't heard about a possible serial killer stalking the young women in this Southern town of 60,000. The latest victim, Elizabeth Jane Smallwood, was identified on Oct. 12. Why have the Rocky Mount homicides been largely ignored?

"When you think about the famous missing-person cases over the last few years it's Chandra Levy, Natalee Holloway, and Laci Peterson," notes Sam Sommers, associate professor of psychology at Tufts University. All these women had a few things in common—they were white, educated, and came from middle-class families. The victims in Rocky Mount—which residents describe as a "typical Southern town," and is about 40 percent white and more than 50 percent black—were different. They were all African-American, many were poor, and some had criminal histories including drug abuse and prostitution.'

All valid observations-- but they leave out the fact that so many men are found murdered or go missing in any given year and are likewise ignored.

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Comments

They weren't last night. Anyway, I posted this:

"Agreed that the media picks and chooses based largely on their perception of "viewer appeal". It is borne out in ratings. Missing attractive white women and girls score major points. Minority women? Little perceived appeal, only unless they too are very attractive AND have a place already in the public eye.

But what of missing/murdered men? Almost never covered unless it looks like he is missing under self-created, preferably nefarious conditions (eg: Olivia Newton-John's missing bf). Every day, hundreds, maybe thousands, of people go missing. It seems the only time it gets news coverage if it it's an attractive young white blond woman or a very cute little blond girl. Other than that, the news isn't interested,, because apparently, the public isn't either."

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Submitted by mcc99 on Fri, 2009-10-23 18:51

...had one other thing in common - they were women. Quick, how many missing men got even near-equal attention? That's right, none.

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Rise, Rebel, Resist.

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Submitted by MichaelClaymore on Fri, 2009-10-23 22:36

The sad fact is that it is still MALE EDITORS who decide that missing blond white women and children are newsworthy and other men are just not deserving of any coverage unless they are criminals on the run or behind on their "mommy support."
I suspect this incongruity is a manifestation of some decadent form of chivalry.

We men are unfortunately largely responsible for our state of second class citizens.

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Submitted by Luek on Sun, 2009-10-25 16:26

I do not think it is GENDER discrimination. I think it is LIFESTYLE discrimination.

One other thing that the high profile women had in common is they had 'low risk' lifestyles, and were usually abducted doing normal every day things. So it is more 'shocking'.

I bet you have just as many female prostitute murders that never make the news either. People just aren't interested in unsolved crimes involving female prostitutes or male criminals or transients.

Infact, this whole article is about how women with any type of criminal background escape news coverage.

I think there is an equal amount of women as men getting left out from Nancy Grace because of their lifestyle or circumstances surrounding the case.

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Submitted by Kris on Sun, 2009-10-25 19:51