Mariah Carey Demands More Respect  12/22/05

Mariah Carey is sick of her bad reputation, insisting she deserves more respect for her achievements in music.

The singer claims the media unfairly allows men to be creative songwriters, but portrays women as divas.

Carey - the biggest selling female solo artist in the 1990s - says, "It's kind of difficult for people to see me as this diva and then to also realize that I do write my own songs and produce the records.

"Quite frankly, it's much easier for men to get credit than women, particularly since I am not sitting behind a piano or a guitar.

"My voice is my instrument."