ºÙºÙÊÓƵ

Behind every great woman is her dad, says a ºÙºÙÊÓƵ psychologist who studies high-achieving people. "First borns are more successful than later borns among males, but this effect is accentuated for females -- and even more likely if they are only children," says Dean K. Simonton, professor of psychology and author of "Origins of Genius: Darwinian Perspectives on Creativity" (1999 Oxford University Press). Simonton has been studying high achievers among first ladies and eminent female psychologists between 1802 and 1963. Women who become eminent are highly likely to have developed very close relationships with their fathers, a connection enhanced by the frequent lack of older brothers who would otherwise attract the fathers' attention, Simonton says. Women -- regardless of their class or ethnic backgrounds -- have been underrepresented among the high achievers, having to deal with discrimination at the school level as well as in their careers. "But the one place where a white woman has the advantage within underrepresented groups is that she can have an ally in her home from the majority culture -- her father," Simonton says. "If you live in a male-dominated culture but your father gives you support to overcome obstacles in the path, you can succeed," Simonton says. He says the pivotal role of fathers as well as that of birth order is declining, although modestly, as more women have become active in the work world. "Career mothers are also providing parental attention and talent development for their children," he says.