Any regular news consumer is likely familiar with the existence of persistent gender gaps in the American workplace. Despite being more educated than men, women continue to make less money and are far less likely to reach the top ranks of corporate leadership than their male peers. 

There are myriad theories of why gender gaps persist. The most common one centers on the fact that women often drop out of the workforce temporarily to bear and care for children, while others focus on negative attitudes in the workplace towards women who are seen as ambitious.  

The Guardian Life Insurance Company sought to analyze how women's attitudes about themselves may prevent them becoming financial advisers — a profession occupied mostly by men. In a study released Wednesday, Guardian, one of the country's largest mutual life insurers, identified a number of barriers that kept women from seeking a career in sales.