term 'example girl'

I know this is an odd, and potentially politically incorrect question, but saw this term used on a movie/tv discussion on another site.

The term "example girls" was used by several posters in referring to the movie and television shows that show, usually at the beginning, women characters meeting (or having already met) an unhappy end, to set the severity of the danger that the main female lead (I guess an old term might be damsel-in-distress) character will face. Or in the case of CSI type shows, the nature of the serial-crime that needs to be solved.

Is "example girl" a common, industry standard, phrase? Is it a general fan term? I've never heard it before. But I don't get around much anymore. Just curious.

In the discussion where I saw the term being used, they were talking about how cliche it's become that crime shows too often open with the discovery of a dead woman (often nude and/or bound) by joggers, construction workers, in a dumpster, etc.