Danusha V. Goska

2001 Media Coverage of Missing Women

This is Danusha Goska.

Suppose a Black Supreme Court clerk disappeared. There's no evidence of suicide. Circumstance suggests murder. Suppose it came out that one Supreme Court justice had an earlier, hidden career as a white supremacist, and suppose, further, that that very justice lied about his relationship with the missing clerk. Now ask yourself: would that be newsworthy? You bet it would. The abuse of power and an attitude that devalues black lives are important social themes.

Now tell me why pundits are pontificating that coverage of missing intern Chandra Levy is merely titillating, tabloid sleaze.

I'm sorry, but the life of a person who happens to be pretty, young, and female is as important as the life of any gray-haired, suit-wearing pundit or politician. The story of how some men use women, sometimes even kill women, and then use their greater power to escape consequences, is as important as the latest blah, blah, blah from any patriarchal figure.

We don't know if Gary Condit caused Levy harm. We do know that if a woman disappears, police first question her husband or boyfriend. Condit used his power to avoid such questioning – till press coverage lit a fire under D.C. police.
The use of power to obstruct a possible homicide investigation?

The dismissal of the importance of a human life because that life was pretty, perky, and female?

The placement of a man who uses women like Kleenex in a position of power over women constituents?

Is this newsworthy? You bet it is.

For Speak Your Mind, this has been Danusha Goska.

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