Snatch some breast implants, land some liposuction and procure a personal trainer. It’s Women’s Week, and any females interested in “changing the climate” (the Women’s Week slogan) through music – let alone making a difference – need all of these things.

Unattractive women – at least by today’s pop culture standards of beauty (MTV, Teen People, Barbie) – have no place “changing the climate.” No one will listen to female musicians unless they are begging to be a “slave 4 U” while dancing half-naked and stroking a snake.

And if they aren’t capable of or willing to “artistically display” their “assets,” female artists better surround themselves with supporting dancers and musicians who will. Otherwise, no one will care.

In the last four years or so, MTV has been one of the primary proponents of the good female artist equals skinny, slinky stripper mindset. But recently, in light of Sept. 11, Misogyny Televison briefly jumped out of its silicone mold, playing videos such as Bob Marley’s “One Love” that had probably been relegated to the “Lacks T & A” section of the “Don’t Play” videos.

It took terrorist attacks to momentarily shift the channel’s focus from Britney Spears and her slithery phallic symbol to images and sounds of peace and harmony. Videos of togetherness and acceptance flooded the airwaves.

The new vision wouldn’t last long. Nearly four weeks after the attacks, MTV is back to pushing eating disorders and exposed navels on young women. Sure, MTV’s Web site does contain a continuing online forum devoted to the attacks. And one might note the series of all-star tributes/remakes of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” as an example of pop music and the station trying to positively influence the youth of the United States.

Indeed, at first glance, the concept for the “What’s Going On” video seems to send an image other than the MTV standard that could be summed up as: dress slutty so the boys at your school will like you and probably take your virginity before you turn 16.

In the video, female artists such as Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keys and male musicians including Aaron Lewis of Staind, Fred Durst and Justin Timberlake will sport blindfolds that carry labels such as “Woman,” “Homosexual” and “Muslim,” according to an MTV.com news story.

The pop stars will remove the coverings as they make their contribution to the song, symbolically opening their – and viewers’ – eyes to issues of diversity.

Quite a noble idea. What better way to influence impressionable youth than through the waifish, unreasonably-proportioned musicians they idolize?

However, whether intentional or not, the video reinforces negative stereotypes for young women. All the female artists in the video are alluring, which is great, because that’s probably the only way pop music would have recognized and supported them.

Through its depiction of “labeled individuals,” MTV seems to be saying, “Support equal treatment and rights for women, homosexuals, Muslims and other minority groups, as long as they are good-looking.”

If the makers of the video really wanted to make a difference and positively affect young men and women, especially, they should have included artists such as indie feminists Le Tigre and punk-folker Ani DiFranco.

Of course, this is completely unrealistic, considering MTV and pop music’s trend has almost always been to rank nearly unobtainable beauty above talent and originality.

The signs pop up during “Total Request Live,” the video popularity show that is insanely popular with pre-pubescent boys and girls who are eager to embrace the sexual imagery of their musical heroes.

Last week’s “TRL” ended with four women – Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey and Britney Spears – in the top 10, all of whom fit the unrealistic body expectations of youth culture.

Men aren’t as subject to these demands, however. Southern white, slightly overweight rapper Bubba Sparxxx is number eight on the countdown, and the freakish Michael Jackson checks in at number six.

The Oct. 13, 2001 top 50 positions of the Billboard Hot 100 lists the singles of 16 female artists, only two of which – Enya and Missy Elliot – are not famous and successful in part because of the way they look.

Women, take note: call your little sisters and cousins who are interested in changing the climate of pop music and tell them to start saving their babysitting money, because according to www.webplastics.com, implant surgery from pre-operation to post-op range between $4,000 and $10,000.

Jon Dahlager is a junior in journalism and mass communication and sociology. He is arts and entertainment editor of the Daily and is only $375 away from his first augmentation surgery.