During the summer, I remember my mother telling me about Maylin Reynoso, a young Dominican girl who went missing in July. I remember googling her name and wondering why there wasn't an article about her on any mainstream news outlets. All I found were social media posts made by her friends and an article written about her in "Latina Magazine."
Around the same time, a young jogger named Karina Vetrano went missing and received extensive news coverage. When Maylin’s body was found, there was no word about an investigation besides the fact that it was “ongoing,” but when Karina’s body was found, the investigation received air time, a sketch was released as well as a video of Karina minutes before her disappearance. Why?
It’s a phenomenon called "white missing woman syndrome." What’s the difference between Maylin and Karina besides the fact that they’re tragically no longer with their families and friends? Their race.
While many voiced their opinion via social media about the lack of coverage at the time of the events, I feel that it is necessary to address that women of color are missing and receive no media coverage. White missing woman syndrome is the tendency for news media to cover the murder and abductions of affluent or middle-class white woman rather than report those that involve people of color.
As a woman of color, one of my biggest fears is for one of my friends or myself to go missing because we can only reach the masses through social media. On Twitter, I retweet every photo of a missing teenager or child I come across because every retweet helps. As someone who is an aspiring journalist, I hope to change this.
When our girls go missing, EVERYONE should care. This is someone’s daughter, sister, niece, grandchild. We should see them as apart of our own families. They shouldn't be written off as “rebellious” teenagers who decided to run away. Although cases like that do exist, we shouldn't immediately assume that this is the case for all.
Here are some tips for your safety:
1. If you are emailed or receive a message on social media about a job offer, LOOK IT UP! Many of these "companies" are located in the middle of nowhere.
In the summer, I remember seeing screenshots posted by girls in the New York City area. They were receiving job offers through Instagram direct message. It was said to be a sex trafficking ring using social media to attract young girls, and recently, females in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) have been receiving illegitimate job offers through email.
2. If you see someone post a missing person on social media: repost/retweet.
Citizen journalism is the most powerful thing! We have the power to spread information like wildfire. If it’s in your area call your local police station and inform them of any tips you can provide them with.
3. Be aware of who you communicate with on social media.
Although social media is a great way to connect with others, never underestimate the possibility of someone pretending to be someone they're not. If you decide to meet this person, take a friend and do so in a public area so if anything goes wrong you can get help immediately.
There are 64,000 women of color missing in the United States since 2014. Let’s do everything we can to prevent this number from increasing.
