THE SILENCE OF VIOLENCE: MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN PORTRAYALS IN THE MEDIA
Chiariello, Haylee
Chiariello, Haylee
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2025-05-19
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Abstract
When reviewing major stories of missing or murdered women in North America, the media has demonstrated its extensive interest and fascination with instances of missing, harmed and murdered white women. In contrast, women of color receive significantly less coverage from media outlets, despite women of color experiencing significantly higher rates of violence. Despite Native and Indigenous women's higher representation of missing and murdered cases in North America, the media?s coverage of these cases is often limited, overlooked and disregarded. This project examines the differential coverage of missing white woman cases when compared to the coverage surrounding missing Native American and Indigenous women.
An issue with nationwide reach and impact, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, commonly referred to as MMIW, addresses the centuries-long crisis of disproportionate experiences of sexual assault, abduction and murder perpetrated against American Indian and Indigenous women. The MMIW crisis may be considered a result of government policies and practices introduced during colonization, such as violence perpetrated against Native communities, forced removal, and seizures of land. Contemporary Native American and Indigenous women continue to experience alarmingly high rates of violence, leading to generational cycles of violence perpetrated against Native peoples..
Despite these advocacy efforts from Native American and Indigenous communities, instances of missing and murdered Native American, Indigenous and aboriginal women receive less media coverage when compared to white women. The review analyzes the distinction between media coverage of missing and murdered white Native women and white women. In addition, this project identifies how media framing behaviors may perpetuate stereotypes and impact the lack of media coverage of MMIW cases and experiences.