its definitely is a ‘thing’.
However as a mixed race woman I am not sure its just as easy as the media is racist.
There’s so many layers to this. A lot of of the cases that get a lot of attention usually get the attention because the family or friends have pushed for media involvement. Sarah Everard, as an example, worked at digital media company and her friends (with media contacts) are the ones that made sure her disappearance got lots of attention.
Class and background have a lot to do with it. I live in an ex mining town. We have had quite a lot of women go missing, from here and the surrounding area, in recent years. All white (predominantly white area)The women have unfortunately been found dead and non have made the national news. Even when missing for several days. One was missing for a good few days, left her house in the middle of the night and her husband said she had PND. She was found dead several days later, which is when there was small mentions on news websites. Her husband was arrested and turns out her murdered her. Again, his arrest was on websites. Not the national news. His sentencing did make the news.
several women have gone missing and found days later after committing suicide. Locally they are stories on Facebook, local police pages, sometimes local newspapers Facebook. But not national. Only last weekend a young girl went missing. Again, all over Facebook but never made news. A young white girl. Thankfully she was found after a few days.
Most missing people, do not make the news.
Racism and classism within the police has an impact. How quickly they react. Their initial decisions, their opinions on what happened etc
Theres cultural aspects. If I went missing my mums family would be trying to get as much attention as possible. My Dads family (Indian) would not. They are far more private. As are most of their friends of a similar back ground. Whilst I am sure many families would, there’s a culture of privacy that I see far more in my Dads family than in my mums. And I see that in my friends families as well.
Of course there’s racism included in the reasons it happens. But let’s be honest, it’s not white women. It’s a certain type of white woman. Usually middle class, whose family probably have better resources available. The women usually are considered attractive. Usually from affluent areas. And so on.
Any missing women from areas considered to be rough or poor aren’t treated the same missing women from affluent areas and families. The colour of their skin is another layer in this though. It’s actually quite a complex issue.