A study examined the status of women in composition (focusing on writing program administration), how they achieved this status and at what costs. Twenty women who are considered leaders in the field answered questionnaires dealing with training and background, administrative duties, and the effects on their personal and professional lives. Results indicated that although few of the female leaders had any administrative training, most have been administrators in the field of writing, and most have been active in state and national writing programs. To develop their programs they relied on consultation with professional colleagues, trial and error, past experience, and workshops and seminars. For the most part, administrative activities, which took an average of 21 hours per week, came on top of a full teaching load. Contrary to the stereotyped view of writing program administration as "middle management," intellectual projects seemed to be the main reason for taking on the position. Respondents' descriptions of the effects of writing program administration on personal life were widely divergent, based on marital status. All have published regularly. Practical advice for getting tenure offered by the respondents included getting a strong theoretical background, seeking out a mentor, and publishing as much as possible. In addition they suggested choosing new responsibilities carefully, determining priorities, and getting active in the profession. (PRA)