By Shalini Bahl

In a remarkable fusion of generational feminism, art, and community collaboration, the Amherst Young Feminist Party unveiled their “Four Waves of Feminism¹” mural on Sunday, February 2nd, outside the Mill District Local Art Gallery, on Cowls Road in North Amherst.  

The afternoon celebration drew a significant crowd and featured a generous spread of refreshments from Mill District businesses, including coffee from Futura Coffee Roasters, a custom, event-focused cake from Carefree Cakery, provisions from the aptly named Provisions, coupons for free ice cream from the newly opened Herrell’s Ice Cream, Mexican cuisine from 3 Amigos, and additional refreshments from the Mill District General Store.

The mural project uniquely merged two artistic visions: the Young Feminist Party’s Four Waves of Feminism with a 1986 feminist mural design created by Mill District visionary, Cinda Jones, during her senior year at Amherst High School.

“The Mill District has been run by feminists since before the First Wave,” noted Cinda Jones, who represents the ninth generation of her family’s business. She shared how her great-grandmother Sarah Cowls didn’t have the right to vote when she ran a major dairy operation on the site of the day’s celebration, and had to label her milk cans with her husband’s name – a poignant reminder of the barriers women faced in business ownership.

Drawing parallels between generations, Jones shared how her Uncle Denny compared her to her great-grandmother Sarah Cowls, describing them both as “tough, direct, business managers who took no shit, and knew what they wanted.” Reflecting on these traditionally male-coded leadership characteristics, Jones noted, “I hope in the future, these traits are even less surprising to find in a woman.”

Marisol Pierce Bonifaz, Founder and Director of the Amherst Young Feminist Party, emphasized the organization’s growth since its 2020 founding. “We are the local chapter of a national, youth-led, intersectional movement demanding legal gender equality and bodily autonomy for all,” she said, highlighting the group’s extensive community engagement through rallies, educational events, and artistic initiatives.

The mural project, initiated and designed by student artist Ada Paessel, transforms Japanese woodblock-style waves into a powerful visual narrative of the evolution of feminism. The creative process brought together high school students, who carried plywood boards through school hallways and spent autumn afternoons painting while enjoying apple cider and soft jazz at the Mill District.

The unveiling event showcased the power of local collaboration, with representatives from Collective Power for Reproductive Justice and Tapestry Health in attendance, along with Philip Avila, Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Town of Amherst.

In an era of political polarization, the feminist mural project stands as a testament to how community businesses and youth activists can work together to create meaningful dialogue and change. The mural not only celebrates feminist history, but also represents a collaborative bridge between generations of activists, local business, and young artists.

For those interested in viewing the unveiling ceremony and hearing from the speakers, Amherst Media covered the event, with footage soon to be available through their platforms.

The mural will serve as a permanent installation at the Mill District, offering a vibrant reminder of both the historical roots and contemporary energy of feminist activism in Amherst. 

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Shalini Bahl, PhD, is the author of Return to Mindfulness and certified MBSR and Search Inside Yourself teacher who develops mindfulness solutions for intentional living and leadership. Her unique approach helps individuals and organizations disrupt harmful default habits and biases, enabling them to move beyond stress reactions toward mindful responses that benefit all stakeholders. Her work bridges research-backed insights with practical applications in business, education, and public service. A TEDx speaker whose guided meditations have reached over 80,000 listeners, Bahl brings mindfulness into real-world contexts to build individual and organizational capacity for meaningful impact. When not teaching, she finds joy in nature, dance, cooking, and creative projects.

1. Understanding the Four Waves of Feminism, from Martha Rampton’s “Four Waves of Feminism,” Pacific Magazine, 2008
   First Wave (Late 1800s-1920s): Focused primarily on women’s suffrage and property rights. This era culminated in the achievement of women’s right to vote in the United States through the 19th Amendment in 1920.
   Second Wave (1960s-1980s): Expanded the movement’s focus to include workplace rights, reproductive rights, domestic issues, and legal inequalities. Key legislation included the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title IX in 1972.
   Third Wave (1990s-2010s): Emphasized intersectionality, recognizing how gender inequality intersects with race, class, and sexuality. This wave challenged traditional gender roles and embraced diversity in feminist expression.
   Fourth Wave (2010s-Present): Characterized by digital activism and social media movements (like #MeToo), focusing on sexual harassment, body positivity, and inclusive representation. This current wave emphasizes systemic change and collective action through both online and offline platforms.
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