This study will examine the relationship between career success outcomes of African American women and early familial factors, as well as personality traits. Using a cross-sectional case-control design. the study will use participants who self-identified as African American with two African American parents. They will be randomly selected from a community based sample and exclusionary measures will be used to focus only on the criterion being investigated. There have been few studies that explore the influence of family configuration on African American female achievement and career success. However, based on previous research conducted, several hypothesis have been made: (1) women who report solid familial involvement in early life will have successful career outcomes; (2) women who had a father or father figure will display more masculine personality traits than women who were raised without a father or father figure: (3) women who had masculine and androgynous personality traits will have more successful career outcomes: (4) there is a relationship between solid familial involvement and active involvement in a faith organization with regard to career satisfaction. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]