A new total bummer of a report projects that today's women will not live long enough to see gender equality become a reality. The World Economic Forum released its annual Global Gender Gap [1] findings this week . . . and the results are rather grim. The study measures equality between men and women globally, and by country, on a variety of issues: health and survival, politics and empowerment, education, and income.

This year, the United States continued its slide from a not-that-great #23 when the study launched in 2006 to #45, falling behind countries including Nicaragua, Rwanda, the Philippines, and Iceland (which has ranked #1 for eight consecutive years.)

On a brighter note, the WEF estimates the broader worldwide gender gap can be closed in 83 years — which means within the average lifespan of today's infant girls. But, there's a caveat. "The most challenging gender gaps remain in the economic sphere and in health," the report qualifies. "At the current rate of change, and given the widening economic gender gap since last year, it will not be closed for another 170 years." At least our great-great-great-great-granddaughters have a better future ahead of them?