Nobody would deny that women have come a long way since the days when wives were their husbands' property, female voting was out of the question, and it was generally agreed that a woman's mind was too weak to participate in the masculine affairs of the world.

Indeed, in a year that very nearly saw a highly capable female presidential candidate and now has a woman as a vice presidential pick, it is hard to argue that true equality isn't a realistic goal. Until, that is, you look at the numbers. Especially in Montana.

According to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, Montana women who work full time fell to last place among the states in 2007 in terms of their median annual earnings. They earned $26,598, compared to the median annual earnings of $38,230 for their male counterparts.

On average, women in Montana earn 80 cents for every dollar earned by men. Some of that disparity is explained when you compare education levels, experience on the job, and other factors that affect paychecks. But much of it remains unexplained -- or rather, explained all too well by a lingering cultural prejudice that says a woman's labor simply isn't worth as much as the labor of men.

It still is possible to hear assertions that women should stay in the home and not "take jobs away from men." But of course such talk ignores reality and any sense. These days, most families need two incomes. And women, who on average live substantially longer lives than do men, are doubly discriminated against. They end up with less money to support their retirement due to their lower pay.

There was a lot of talk this year about cracks in the glass ceiling. In Montana, certainly in terms of equal pay, that ceiling isn't cracked nearly enough.