Title: Debunking Myths About Gender, Race and Murder | Psychology Today
Headings: Debunking Myths About Gender, Race and Murder
Scott A. Bonn Ph.D.
Debunking Myths About Gender, Race and Murder
Reality is not what you might think.

Content: For example, there is a pervasive myth in our society that young, white females have the greatest risk of becoming murder victims of all demographic groups. This myth is perpetuated in both fact and fiction by the media which greatly exaggerate the prevalence of attractive, young, white, female victims in their homicide stories. For important sociological reasons, an attractive, young, white, female murder victim evokes great interest, concern and sympathy among the general public. High viewership by the public leads to increased advertising revenue for television networks, so the news and entertainment media prioritize and promote stories involving pretty, white, female murder victims. In reality, however, a white female is the least likely of all demographics to be a homicide victim. She is far less likely than a black female or a male of any race to become a murder victim in the U.S. According to the UCR statistics for 2013, for example, white females comprised 13 percent of the 12,253 murder victims reported. The victimization rate for white females was 1.6 per 100,000 persons in 2013. This compares to rates per 100,000 persons of 4.4 for black females, 4.0 for white males and 32.3 for black males. The victimization rate for black females was three times greater than the rate for white females. While black females and white males were at comparable homicide risk, the victimization rate for black males was eight times greater than either of them, and 20 times greater than the rate for white females.