Missing White Woman Syndrome refers to a situation where a white woman or girl is given more attention when she goes missing. Late TV news anchor Gwen Ifill coined the term to highlight the discrimination that usually takes place when a white female is missing, compared to anyone of a different color or gender. When it comes to attention, media and many other authorities have reportedly been focused more on missing cases concerning white women.
In June 2021, a 24-year-old black man named Daniel Robinson went missing in Arizona. However, the media did not throw much light on the case. Rather, the nation's attention was on Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old white woman, who went missing in August the same year. A missing complaint for Gabby was filed in September.
Despite the efforts of Gabby's father Joseph Petito, she did not return home alive. In her honor, Joseph started the Gabby Petito Foundation and vowed to help those who are searching for their missing children.
How did Gabby Petito's father become an advocate against Missing White Woman Syndrome?
While Gabby's remains were found within days of her missing report, Daniel Robinson's father David Robinson is still searching for him. David has spent months asking the police to search rigorously for his son, but with no success. He then temporarily moved to Arizona to hire an independent investigator.
David Robinson also set up a group of volunteers to look for his missing son.
Daniel's case is an example of Missing White Woman Syndrome, and Gabby's father Joseph Petito was often tagged in posts containing the term. When Joseph learned about Missing White Woman Syndrome, he decided to become the voice for brown and black people who go missing, but authorities do not act on their cases aggressively.
Joseph Petito has been advocating for missing people of color for three years now. The Gabbi Petito Foundation partners with families of color whose members are missing. He has also joined hands with the Black & Missing Foundation.
Petito has been actively advocating for Daniel Robinson's case, and the missing young man's father, David, is grateful. Speaking to CNN, David Robinson said,
"What Mr. Petito has done for my family, it means a lot to me."
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"Because he had a tragedy and it’s amazing when a person can take a tragedy and make something big out of it, become an advocate and help people."
Petito and Robinson keep in touch and have attended Crimecon to share their stories. Petito has been a part of virtual gatherings for Daniel, too. Netizens have appreciated his efforts after posts about Missing White Woman Syndrome led him to help people of color.
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