Ladies First

Ladies First: Women in Music Videosby Robin RobertsQueen Latifah''s lyrics tout female superiority. Salt ''n Pepa energize with eroticism. Julie Brown''s unsettling version of a campus queen dethrones the mainstream icon. Martina McBride''s song of liberation gives new meaning to Independence Day.Today in the music video industry such women artists have assumed a remarkable and refreshing new presence. Although many popular videos have been condemned for sexism, the medium has experienced a striking change. Both in repertoires and in performances the politics of feminism has moved to the front row. More and more, women are being presented as strong and positive. Ladies First takes a close look at this exciting phenomenon and shows how both on and off screen strong females have assumed larger roles in the industry. Whether their songs are country, rock, or rap, the ladies of contemporary music video continue to assert, confront, and challenge.Demolishing stereotypes, today''s singers ex