Thread by @VOCInsider

Since the start of the pandemic, there's been a spike in missing Black and Latina women — a phenomenon that follows yearly upticks of missing people of color, according to experts.

Data and lack of media attention have obscured the problem.

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The numbers for Latina women and girls are more difficult to come by. In fact, there does not appear to be an umbrella organization specifically focused on missing Latino youth and adults.

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Latinas are counted with white women and youth in these data sets — a problem researchers say obscures the scope of the epidemic against these communities.

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As with hate crimes and harassment, vulnerable communities may not report missing cases out of misunderstanding and fear.

A myth is that people need to wait a specific amount of time before reporting a missing person. This is not the case.

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Language and citizenship may be obstacles that prevent people, particularly Latinos, from reporting a missing person.

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Experts also say that despite these difficult circumstances, Black and Latino families are often hesitant to report a missing person.

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Aside from reporting barriers, a lack of attention hides the epidemic of missing women of color.

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The League of United Latin American Citizens launched a campaign when Vanessa Guillen, a Latina soldier who went missing, was found killed last year.

But, there aren't enough resources directed toward the crisis of missing Black and Latina women.

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The case of Gabby Petito brought renewed attention to the disproportionate media coverage white women receive.

https://twitter.com/donwinslow/status/1439715950866038790

Experts found that white female victims tended to be portrayed more favorably than their Black and Latina counterparts in media coverage.

“Missing-white-woman syndrome,” coined by the journalist Gwen Ifill in 2004, persists.

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Anyone affected by abuse and in need of support can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Advocates are available 24/7 and additionally reachable by texting LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474 or via live chat on thehotline.org