The Missing White Woman Syndrome on the Turkish Twitter

Abstract

Despite extensive research on media representation in feminist studies, the inequality in media visibility of femicide victims remains a relatively less discussed aspect. This study investigated the Missing White Woman Syndrome of domestic and foreign femicide victims on the Turkish Twitter. Data on femicide cases was collected from the Monument Counter (Anıt Sayaç) platform and Twitter between January 2018 and March 2023. Our sample included 135 foreign and 139 Turkish victims, whose nationality, age, marital status, and social status were analyzed. Using Twitter's advanced search option, victim names were examined as exact phrases and hashtags within 30 days of the femicide. The findings indicated disparities in the Twitter visibility of femicide cases between Turkish and foreign victims. Foreign femicide victims showed more limited visibility than Turkish victims, and factors such as social status, age, and marital status affected visibility. By highlighting the prevalence of the Missing White Woman Syndrome in relation to femicide, the research underlined the importance of recognizing and challenging biases in social media representation to foster greater awareness, empathy, and social change to combat violence against women in Turkey and beyond.