Is the 'missing white woman syndrome' a reflection of society's attitude towards men & minorities?

[Loki, The Shape Shifter]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_whi...ndrome#_=_

The "missing white woman syndrome" is a social phenomenon, which makes the observation that when a beautiful, young, white female comes to harm, people are more likely to feel sympathy, pay attention, and/or help than when the person coming to harm is ugly, old, not white, or male.