The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) today warns gender equality is still generations away and calls for urgent action across all aspects of life to close the stubborn gaps within ten years.

'Completing the Revolution', the EOC’s final report before it is absorbed into the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights on 1 October, sets out the most comprehensive ever measure of gender equality in Britain. It looks for the first time, not just at pay and power, but also support for families and access to public services, justice and safety.

Drawing upon more than 30 years of experience, the EOC has identified 22 leading indicators that measure the state of the nation in terms of gender equality and highlights where we need to focus our efforts in the years to come if we’re serious about change.

Despite some advances, the indicators show worrying gender gaps across all areas of life, and at the current rate of progress change will be painfully slow. For example, the ‘power gap’ for women in Parliament will take  almost 200 years to close and it will take up to 65 years to have a more  equitable balance of women at the top of FTSE 100 companies.

The ‘pensions gap’ will take 45 years to equalise: retired women’s income is currently 40% less than men's; the ‘part-time pay gap’ will take 25 years to close  and the ‘full-time pay gap’ 20 years. Women working part-time earn 38% less per hour than men working full  time. Full time female employees earn 17% less per hour than men.

Jenny Watson, chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: “These startling indicators suggest that the reality of far too many men’s and women’s lives is out of step with their aspirations. We're living in the midst of an unfinished social revolution. Today, most women work, many men no longer define themselves as breadwinners and both sexes often struggle to find the time they need to care for others in their lives.”