But that doesn't mean they're beaten before they start—not by a long shot. There are steps women can take to try to minimize the challenges their retirement finances are in for, and the more of them they're able to take well before retirement, the more likely they'll be to avoid such a dire fate at the end of their lives.

Here are 10 of them, some courtesy of a research report from the Transamerica Center on Retirement Studies, a CBS News report and Beth Andrews, founder of Networth Advisors.

10. Save for retirement. Yeah, we know.

Many women aren't saving at all, and that's a big no-no.

Instead, even if it's a small amount, try to set aside as much money as possible, as often as possible. Be consistent and do your best to turn it into a habit.

Whether the best you can do is dumping your change into a jar at the end of the day or automatically transferring money out of your checking account into your savings account every payday, make sure that you take this step—as soon and as frequently as you can.

9. Open an IRA or other plan.

If you don't have access to a retirement plan at work, you have plenty of company. According to an analysis from the Pew Charitable Trusts last year, 42 percent of U.S. workers don't.

So start your own. Even if you are a freelancer or gig worker with an irregular and probably unreliable income, you can still have a retirement account—such as a myRA plan, sort of a starter option for those just beginning to save.

For those worrying about being unable to withdraw the money in an emergency, there is flexibility. And don't forget Roths and traditional IRAs—or even a solo 401(k), if you own your own business.

8. Make a plan.

It's harder to overlook something if you have a plan in which you envision downsizing, moving to another area, how you'll handle health care, what sort of budget you might need compared to what you have now and other essential factors.

What will you do, for instance, if you become disabled? If your partner dies or you divorce? Can you boost insurance coverage or pay for a long-term care policy? How will you handle living alone?

7. Make a Plan B.

Consider the following questions: In case of divorce or death of a spouse, what would that do to your finances? How will you cope if you lose your job or become unable to work?

Will family members help you if the worst happens? Will you be able to take on possible freelance work or launch a business of your own? What if you live decades longer than you expect? Will you still have money to live on?

Andrews points out in a statement that "Most men die married. Most women die single. Generally, that means men will have someone who's caring for them right up to the end. Women will be left to care for themselves."

And that should be part of your Plan B, too.

6. Start an emergency fund.

Even if it's small, an emergency fund might be able to tide you over should you end up dealing with a major financial problem such as expensive home repairs or a totaled car—or even a big doctor or hospital bill.

Knowing it's there may provide enough peace of mind for you to think more clearly about a more permanent solution.

5. Learn about investing.

One problem women have who do save for retirement is a lack of confidence about their choices—as well as a tendency to stick to "safe" investments.

If you can study up on markets and investments, you'll understand the whole process better and find that you're less intimidated at the idea of making choices. When you know more, you can make better choices—maybe even more aggressive ones to bring in higher returns and grow your assets faster.

That's not to say you should run hog wild in the pursuit of returns. Instead, think about asking for help. While the 2015 Fidelity Investments Money FIT Women Study found that 92 percent of the women surveyed said they were eager to learn about financial planning, just 47 percent said they were confident talking about money and investments with a professional.

You might want to consider turning to a professional you trust, particularly to determine an appropriate risk level and to consider the more arcane aspects of investing, such as how to make a portfolio as tax efficient as possible.

But do keep on your toes, particularly as the eventual fate of the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule is still at risk under the current administration.

4. Postpone claiming Social Security as long as possible.

If possible, let your benefits grow so that those monthly checks will be larger for the rest of your life.

If you can wait till age 70, they'll be an average of 38 percent more. If you are widowed, you might be able to claim benefits earlier on your spouse's record and delay claiming on your own until you at least reach full retirement age.

3. Stay healthy.

It might sound silly, but if you can keep yourself in good health you'll spend less on health care and perhaps be able to keep yourself insured (depending on what shakes out with the projected repeal/replacement of the Affordable Care Act).

In addition, you'll be able to work longer, should you need to, and take care of more of your own household tasks yourself, thus avoiding the expense of hiring someone else to do them for you.

2. Keep working after age 65.

Being able to work longer will perhaps give you some additional years in which to boost what retirement savings you have, as well as allow you to leave those savings untouched for future use.

The longer those funds are allowed to grow, the longer they'll last you in retirement.

1. Plan for inflation.

People often don't take inflation into account when evaluating how much money they'll need to retire.

But not only does the regular cost of living rise, so do expenses that recur more frequently as you age—health care costs, for example, and way beyond the increases experienced in other categories—and the need to hire people to do home repairs, if your husband is used to doing them himself or if you find yourself alone in retirement.

Remember that as you figure out your plan and your budget, and consider how much more you're likely to need once you've left the workplace for good.