NICOLA Sturgeon has come under fire over her government's record on supporting women in the workplace.
Scottish Labour highlighted figures showing a dramatic fall in the number of women studying at college while only a handful gained apprenticeships in engineering jobs.
Challenging Ms Sturgeon during First Minister's Question, Scottish Labour deputy leader Kezia Dugdale said more than 260,000 women were in jobs earning less than the living wage of £7.85 per hour.
She told MSPs: "Just saying you are for gender equality doesn't make it so.
"Hundreds of thousands of women in Scotland applauded when this First Minister walked through the front door of Bute House.
"They are already wondering what difference it makes."
The attack came as politicians from all parties prepare to mark International Women's Day on Sunday.
Ms Sturgeon will speak out against violence against women at a campaign event in Glasgow.
But Ms Dugdale said: "The SNP's record of supporting women isn't one they should be proud of.
"Under the SNP women are being locked out of the jobs of the future and being deprived of the opportunity to develop their skills,"
According to Scottish Labour, 85,000 fewer women are studying at college than in 2007 when the SNP came to power and only 68 started engineering apprenticeships last year.
Ms Sturgeon, Scotland's first female First Minister, has stressed her commitment to gender equality since succeeding Alex Salmond.
In her inaugural speech last November, she pledged she would use her time in office to ensure every girl in Scotland had the opportunity to follow in her footsteps.
Her cabinet is split 50-50 between men and women.
Dismissing Ms Dugdale's attack, she told MSPs: "Scotland has the highest female employment, the lowest female unemployment and the lowest female inactivity rate of any UK nation.
"That's a result of the actions this Government has been taking.
"I think it's because people see this Government delivering right across this country, whether they are men or women, that they are opting to support the SNP and have left Labour languishing in an obviously very desperate position."
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