ON Friday, I became the first woman leader of the SNP in our 80 year history as a party.

Tomorrow - if Parliament elects me to the post - I will become the first woman First Minister of Scotland.

I am incredibly privileged to be in these positions but I am also very aware of the responsibilities I will carry.

There is no doubt that becoming the first woman to hold the office of First Minister is significant. I hope that it sends a very strong message to every young woman and girl in the country - that, no matter your gender or background, if you are good enough and work hard enough, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. In short, I hope it leaves another massive crack in the glass ceiling.

Politics badly needs more women in senior positions.

To every woman out there who thinks that they might like to get involved in politics or stand for parliament, I say go for it. If I can do it, so can you.

But important though it is to have a woman in the top job in politics, it isn't enough in itself. It doesn't mean that the battle for gender equality is won.

We still have a long way to go. So, for me, what I do as First Minister to help other women fulfil their potential will be more important than the example I set by holding the office.

I want to use my position to challenge gender inequality head on. In particular, I want to set a challenge to public bodies and private companies to improve gender balance on their own boards.

It is the right thing to do but there is also now a wealth of evidence showing that more women on boards improves the performance of organisations too.

I also want to help raise the living standards of women.

Low pay in this country is a real problem and it affects women disproportionately.

Half of all children living in poverty live in a household where at least one adult works.

That's why the living wage is so important.

The Scottish Government already pays the living wage to our own staff and to those in the NHS.

But we want to go further - to make it a central priority in government contracts and encourage its adoption in the wider private sector.

Childcare will also be a priority for my government. For parents - women in particular - good quality, affordable childcare is vital.

I set out at the weekend my pledge, if the SNP is re-elected in 2016, to almost double the provision of free childcare over the lifetime of the next parliament.

All of these and the many other initiatives I plan, will help to ensure that women get the same opportunity as me - to follow their dreams and fulfil their potential.

If that is a legacy I manage to leave as First Minister, I will be very happy indeed. And it will be so much more important than just the symbolism of having a woman in the top job.