Joy Reid calls out ‘missing white woman syndrome’ amid gabby petito case

[Zeth 948]

There are so many factors behind this, to just completely go straight to race right at the time her body is found is sickening. The media has been covering this story because the nation itself wants them to. It's a very dramatic and bizarre story, race completely aside. Compound that with the fact TikTok (for the very first time of this scale) and social media caught wind of the story, circulated it around like wildfire, and actually became integral to the case, with users posting their findings to go viral and aid the FBI.

We've been through a turbulent year with COVID and all of the nuances that it entails that I don't think any missing person, regardless of skin color, would have really captivated the nation to this scale until present. Now, we'll probably see repeat instances of the public trying to aid the FBI on a large scale with all missing persons.

[LOVE JUNKIE 3,299]

1 minute ago, PartySick said:

I guess I'm just jaded from seeing most serious issues devolve into bitter left/right pissing matches instead of an actual conversations

That's fair, and there's a lot of spaces where that sort of thing is very lucrative and profitable. But issues are issues at the end of the day and discussion is always better than silence. Just gotta fight the gravitational pull of cynicism. Easier said than done, of course

[LOVE JUNKIE 3,299]

Just now, Zeth said:

There are so many factors behind this, to just completely go straight to race right at the time her body is found is sickening. The media has been covering this story because the nation itself wants them to. It's a very dramatic and bizarre story, race completely aside. Compound that with the fact TikTok (for the very first time of this scale) and social media caught wind of the story, circulated it around like wildfire, and actually became integral to the case, with users posting their findings to go viral and aid the FBI.

We've been through a turbulent year with COVID and all of the nuances that it entails that I don't think any missing person, regardless of skin color, would have really captivated the nation to this scale until present. Now, we'll probably see repeat instances of the public trying to aid the FBI on a large scale with all missing persons.

It's about an ongoing issue in society. No one's saying she shouldn't get coverage. It's about a pattern in media, not her specific case. All they're saying is that all missing people should get coverage. Maybe read through some more of the posts in this thread if you haven't already, we've been discussing these points.

[Zeth 948]

5 minutes ago, LOVE JUNKIE said:

It's about an ongoing issue in society. No one's saying she shouldn't get coverage. It's about a pattern in media, not her specific case. All they're saying is that all missing people should get coverage. Maybe read through some more of the posts in this thread if you haven't already, we've been discussing these points.

Perhaps you should reread my post! My belief is the media is covering it because the nation itself made it a big case. The criticism should not be directed at the media for covering what the public itself wants them to.

[LOVE JUNKIE 3,299]

Just now, Zeth said:

Perhaps you should reread my post! My belief is the media is covering it because the nation themselves made it a big case.

I never said otherwise? I never even said her case got more coverage because she's white. Again, this isn't about her case specifically. It's an empirically studied phenomenon that has existed before her disappearance and will continue to exist until the media is able to change.

[reysus 1,064]

I'm a little conflicted about this, because it does seem to be in bad taste, especially with the timing being right after they found her remains. And I definitely do think that the fact she did have a social media presence and that this is almost like a true crime podcaster's ideal story is what really made it take off to the level that it has reached. That being said, missing white woman syndrome is a real thing, and it is awful that white victims tend to get more media attention and sympathy and outrage (or more accurately that missing POC get somewhat ignored). I just think Joy should have waited a little bit, when the dust had settled if only for the sake of Gabby's family. 

[streamstarcrossed 409]

1 hour ago, ProfessionalClown said:

“oh, she only got found now bc she’s white. You wouldn’t do that it she’s a POC. Is her life worth more! Why did she get attention?”

This is a complete misinterpretation of the point Joy made which was already written clearly in the original post. Maybe read it again? It sounds like you take more issue with Joy even addressing the disregard for missing black people than the fact that there IS a national disregard for missing black people.

1 hour ago, ProfessionalClown said:

this is just negating and belittling her case solely bc she was just a white woman.

No, this is just how you chose to misconstrue it. Your entire response has the same energy as those who think black lives matter is synonymous with being anti white. Joy is not “belittling” anything. She’s not even saying there shouldn’t be the media frenzy around this case. She’s asking where is this same support for missing people of color. 
 

It’s always so telling when a poc points out a racist practice and someone gets irritated that they even brought it up. 

[Zeth 948]

8 minutes ago, LOVE JUNKIE said:

I never said otherwise? I never even said her case got more coverage because she's white. Again, this isn't about her case specifically. It's an empirically studied phenomenon that has existed before her disappearance and will continue to exist until the media is able to change.

Sorry, maybe I am not being clear enough. My belief is that the media coverage of Gabby is more to do with the fact we've hit a semi-low point in national COVID-related coverage added to the fact that the citizens of the United States themselves are practically beckoning for the media to respond to their wishes and cover the story. In other words, in this specific circumstance, the media is not at all at fault. 

I really don't know how else to illustrate my point if you don't understand it after this post, so I will respectfully not engage any further. I still stand by the others in saying it is a darn shame this argument is made right when they find Gabby's body. Poor girl.

[LOVE JUNKIE 3,299]

3 minutes ago, reysus said:

And I definitely do think that the fact she did have a social media presence and that this is almost like a true crime podcaster's ideal story is what really made it take off to the level that it has reached

I don't think anyone in the video was really arguing against that tho. The point wasn't that this case only got attention because she's white. The conversation is really only tangentially related to Gabby's case. No matter what you think the reason is for the widespread coverage, it doesn't negate the non-coverage that other women get and the disparity that exists which existed long before today and will continue to exist. And it seems like you already understand that. I just don't really see how this hurts anyone. This is a rare opportunity to have an extremely important conversation.

[Scar97 1,695]

1 hour ago, PartySick said:

Did they not just pull this girl's body out of the woods?  she's not wrong but this really ain't the time to be dropping her name onto this issue.

Totally agree. She runs a major program, she should cover these stories and be the difference 

[LOVE JUNKIE 3,299]

5 minutes ago, Zeth said:

Sorry, maybe I am not being clear enough. My belief is that the media coverage of Gabby is more to do with the fact we've hit a semi-low point in national COVID-related coverage added to the fact that the citizens of the United States themselves are practically beckoning for the media to respond to their wishes and cover the story. In other words, in this specific circumstance, the media is not at all at fault. 

I really don't know how else to illustrate my point if you don't understand it after this post, so I will respectfully not engage any further. I still stand by the others in saying it is a darn shame this argument is made right when they find Gabby's body. Poor girl.

All I was saying is that I wasn't disagreeing with that part of your post and clarifying that I don't think her case got widespread coverage just because she's white. My point was this conversation isn't a conversation about her case, but rather about our society.

[ALGAYDO 35,134]

45 minutes ago, Scar97 said:

Totally agree. She runs a major program, she should cover these stories and be the difference 

And she hasn’t?

[Scar97 1,695]

14 minutes ago, ALGAYDO said:

And she hasn’t?

I don’t watch everything she does, but I would be happy to entertain frequent examples. I don’t disagree with her premise. I’m just tired of outrage about everything with little action or follow through 

[YUJIfushiguro 224]

Do u Americans ever get tired of making literally everything ever about race?

[Emvee 8,832]

1 hour ago, Zeth said:

Perhaps you should reread my post! My belief is the media is covering it because the nation itself made it a big case. The criticism should not be directed at the media for covering what the public itself wants them to.

You’re basically proving that our white majority country doesn’t care when POC go missing, since they don’t circulate the stories as much. Sounds about right.