More and more attention has been focused on women and how they make inroads in their careers. The national debate centers on how women, particularly working mothers, should be considering their ascent to the top of the corporate ladder, but one crucial element of the conversation is missing: how to protect their earnings. 

Today, in many households, women are the breadwinners. A recent study released by Pew Research Center found 4 in 10 households with children under age 18 include a woman as the sole or primary wage earner. 

What this statistic doesn't show is that many of these women — who are keeping their families afloat financially — may not have the proper financial safety net in place should something unexpected happen to them. According to LIMRA, even when women have life insurance, they are not as covered as their male counterparts.