According to sociology professor Rebecca Hensley, to be an “in your face woman” is to be a strong, passionate woman, among other things. Last year she had an idea for a book about powerful women throughout history who made a name for themselves in an iconic way. In today’s society, it seems women still have a limited view and are taught to be an accessory to a male’s life.
According to Hensley her blog, “In Your Face Women” is dedicated to women-all over the world, young and old, living or dead-who have made their presence known. The book would consist of a page for every day of the year, and since 2012 was a leap year, this book would have 366 pages each with a mini biography and stories of a powerful woman.
Hensley used to work out of state. While at a faculty party for a newly hired male professor, she noticed a group of female Ph. D. level professors who were sitting around, drinking, “bemoaning the fact that they were concerned about the views this particular administrator had toward women,” Hensley said. “They were just despondent. Taking action didn’t even cross their minds. So I went home and started thinking, ‘Now why would women at the top of their game feel as though there is absolutely nothing they can do in the face of their obstacles?’ It occurred to me they felt powerless because they didn’t realize there were always women who didn’t act powerless even in the face of similar, or even worse, obstacles.”
Women Hensley has blogged about include Mai Zetterling, Clara Zetkin and Mala Yousafzai. They range from all age groups, races and time periods. They are all women who have stood up for what they believed in but went unnoticed in history books and news. “This is not what we’re taught in history class. These women were in your face,” said Hensley.
The blog has proved to have a vast and local reach. Currently she reads short, snarky radio versions of her blog posts on KSLU 90.9 F.M. during driving hours and Todd Delaney, general manager, has archived them on the Public Radio Exchange. This means anyone from any public radio station can listen to her.
 “I haven’t gotten any comments on my blog posts, but I’ve gotten emails from women listening all over the world. I’m now being read in over 150 countries, including the Middle East and Russia.”
The blog has also brought her the chance to have an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Connecticut. The small, all-girls private college prep school has a student body of only 260 and boards girls in grades sixth through twelfth. It began in 1911 with only 10 students and seven teachers by Ethel Walker. She strived to help women develop character as well as knowledge in their formidable years. Hensley will teach them about empowerment and how they have the chance to make change.
“I was so honored. I responded extremely carefully and thankfully,” Hensley said. “This will be an amazing learning experience, and I’m very excited.”
Hensley will also be giving lectures on campus in March for Women’s History Month, and take on the women in combat issue.
“In truth women have always operated outside of the reality of their gender roles,” said Hensley. “Women have always been in combat; there are women who have been boxers. Women are as strong as men.”
 She hopes her blog empowers women to be themselves. Gender roles have reduced women to basically nothing, and now it is up to the women to make the social change.
“It is not helping society to put half its population in a reduced position. Whether you’re talking about race, gender, class, it’s never in the best interest of a society to reduce a group of its own people and not get the full benefit of the contribution of those people,” Hensley said. “I have incredible respect for a person who is willing to die for what they believe. I mean, you can’t give any more than that. It’s everything. I have not been put in a position where I had to do that, so I continue to work to empower myself and others as I live to honor them for not having the opportunity to do that.”