The rise of the Alpha female

They are the high-achieving, high-earning, glamorous sexy women who manage to juggle a fulfilling career with family life - and, in some cases still manage to fit in lovers on the side. Their name? The Alpha Females.

So who are they and, we ask, are you one? Psychologist Frank Furedi has compiled a profile reflecting an Alpha Female's strengths and weaknesses so that you can discover how much of one you are and, opposite, we pick out a few famous ones you'll recognise...

The Quiz

An angry client threatens to sue your company. Your boss asks you to talk him out of it. Do you:

a) Put on your most alluring dress to try to charm him out of pursuing his threat.

b) Try to find out his weak points in order to gain the upper hand in the discussion.

c) Ask him to a fancy restaurant and attempt to make peace over a civilised meal.

d) Go home and spend two days working out the arguments that are most likely to dissuade him from following up his threat.

After work on Friday you can go out with work colleagues or finish the brief you have been working on. Do you:

a) Join your colleagues and postpone finishing the brief until next week.

b) Excuse yourself and tell your colleagues that you need to work.

c) Go with your colleagues for an hour, then go home to finish the work.

d) Go out with colleagues, be the last one to leave and get up early next morning to finish the work.

You have an invitation to spend Saturday in a health spa, but you can't get a babysitter and your husband will be away. Do you:

a) Decline the invitation.

b) Give your husband an ultimatum to stay at home or risk your wrath.

c) Tell your husband that it is his responsibility to get a relative or friend to find someone to babysit.

d) Demand the spa provides childcare.

You have been asked to join the members of the board of your company for supper, but you promised to watch your son in his school play. Do you:

a) Decline the invitation.

b) Tell your son that you are working.

c) Go for supper, but mobilise the entire extended family to attend, and watch it the next night on video.

d) Tell the board members you have an unavoidable family arrangement, but you can attend drinks afterwards.

Your husband asks you to look after the children on a Saturday night while he has a night out with the boys. Do you:

a) Tell him to have a nice time and spend the evening cleaning the house.

b) Scream that you are not prepared to spend Saturday night on your own.

c) Try to manipulate his feelings so that he feels so guilty he abandons the idea.

d) Tell yourself that you did the same a few months ago and now it's his turn.

Your husband gets a great job offer in a town 250 miles away, but your career and social network is firmly established in your locality. Do you:

a) Tell your husband to forget the offer.

b) Give up your job and move.

c) Make a decision by weighing up the downside and upside of moving.

d) Convince your boss that there are serious advantages to pursuing your career in the area where your husband has the job offer.

On your way to a meeting with your boss you get a phone call from a friend crying for help. Do you:

a) Tell your friend you are too busy to chat, but will call her after work.

b) Offer to find your friend the phone number of some helplines.

c) Stop the car and have a long talk with your friend.

d) Call your boss to say you have an emergency, and go to your friend's house.

You and a female colleague are competing for a work promotion. Do you:

a) Tell everyone that you don't really care who gets it.

b) Buy a new wardrobe to make an impact in the office.

c) Work extra hard to impress the boss.

d) Assume that you will get the promotion and reassure your colleague that you will remain friends.

How do you score?

A answers earn one point each, Bs are two, Cs are three and Ds are five.

Almost Alpha Female (Below ten).
Your instincts are often right, but you don't think of yourself as an Alpha Female. You sometimes choose the lines of least resistance and therefore overlook opportunities for realising your potential.

Trying Hard Alpha Female (10-20)
Most of the time you manage to achieve the Alpha rating. You have good instincts, a sense of humour, but don't like the hassle of being tested in public. You like to reserve making that extra effort for special occasions.

Well Focused Alpha Female (21-30)
Most of the time you manage to shine as you combine common sense with a determination to succeed. You know when to prioritise your home life and when to make that extra work effort.

Over-The-Top Alpha Female (31-40)
Your skill is that you know your strengths and weaknesses - when to be manipulative, when to put the boot in, when to be nurturing, when to compromise and when to work flat out.