Celebrate Women's History Month: 8 Ways to Honor Now

At IGN, we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible women who shape our history and industry. These trailblazers create, inspire, empower, and drive positive change not just during Women's History Month, but every day. Join us in learning, celebrating, and amplifying women's voices. Here’s your guide to understanding Women's History Month and some fantastic ways to celebrate this March.

The History Behind Women's History Month

Women's History Month originated from a petition by the National Women’s History Project in 1987, aiming to "celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields."

Interestingly, Women’s History Month started as "Women’s History Week" in 1982, during the week of March 7. It was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1987. Since 1995, every U.S. President has issued annual proclamations designating March as Women’s History Month.

TL;DR - 8 Ways to Celebrate Women's History Month

• Learn About Women in History and Share Their Stories
• Support Women-Owned Businesses and Professionals
• Watch Movies or Shows Directed by Women
• Read Books Written by Women Authors
• Play Games Created by Women
• Listen to Podcasts Featuring Women
• Volunteer at Women-Based Organizations
• Donate to Programs and Organizations Uplifting Women

1. Learn About Women in History and Share Their Stories

Delve into the stories of remarkable women throughout history. Excellent resources include museum websites like the Smithsonian, women-led organizations such as StoryCorps, and historical content from publishers like The History Channel.

More suggested reads:

• How Women Taught Me to Love and Build Games
• Read Yoko Shimomura's Story: The Composer of Kingdom Hearts, Super Mario RPG, and More Wins Game Developers Choice Award for Lifetime Achievement
• Twelve Black Women You Should Know
• 10 Women Inventors You Should Know

2. Support Women-Owned Businesses and Professionals

From artists to streamers, supporting women in business is vital. Shop from platforms like Etsy, explore Women-Owned Business Directories such as WBD or FoundedByHer, and use Amazon's filters to shop from women-owned retailers across various categories.

Moreover, supporting women's career growth is crucial. Organizations like SoundGirls provide networking and support for women in the audio industry. Sharing success stories and promoting these resources can significantly uplift women in business.

Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.

3. Watch Movies or Shows Featuring Women or Directed by Women

Start with Hulu's collection of shows and movies with Black female leads, or explore Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN® network, celebrating women in front of and behind the camera.

Following the 2025 Oscars, catch up on hits like Anora, which won big with lead actress Mikey Madison.

What We Said in Our Anora Review

Writer Lex Briscuso praised, "Sean Baker’s hysterical and moving Anora serves up its lead character’s purity of heart on a silver platter, showing us what it means to be let down just when the world seems so full of possibility. In this frank exploration of sex work, class, and the promises we make and break, the director reaches our souls and reminds us life isn’t all it seems to be through a story of outcasts and outsiders."

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67See it at Hulu

Here are more ways to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

Celebrate films directed by women, such as Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker. Streaming platforms like Netflix make it easy to find these movies.

Watch Women's Sports

Don't miss out on women's sports. ESPNW covers major leagues like NWSL, WNBA, and NCAAW, while justwomenssports.com is dedicated solely to women's sports. IGN has also partnered with WOW (Women of Wrestling) for events like SDCC. Stream most major events on:

### ESPN+

10Sign up for a standalone ESPN+ subscription or as part of the Disney Bundle that includes Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. See it at ESPN+

4. Read Books Written by Women

Dive into books penned by women across all genres. BookRiot reports that "Women now publish more than 50% of all books, and have since 2020. The increase in published books by women has also come with a boost for the book industry overall, which boasted a year-on-year increase of 12.3% in 2021." For an educational read, consider 10 books by Black women.

Here are some top-rated books by women authors to get you started via Amazon.

### Best-Selling Books by Women Authors

0Browse Amazon's most popular best sellers based on sales and updated frequently. From Kindle Editions to paperback.See it at Amazon

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Behind many beloved games are women creators, developers, directors, designers, and writers. From Portal to Celeste, Uncharted to Centipede, these games showcase the brilliance of women in gaming. Celeste, for example, made a significant cultural impact as one of the most important trans games ever. Get it or download it here on Nintendo.com for $19.99.

Despite women constituting only about 22% of the video game industry, their contributions are invaluable. Explore game lists featuring women creators on platforms like G2A and Microsoft's curated lists.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

There's a vast array of podcasts hosted by women covering news, history, comedy, pop culture, and more. NY Public Radio offers a list of over 100 women-hosted podcasts. Here are some recommendations from IGN's podcast enthusiasts:

1. You're Wrong About

In You're Wrong About, Sarah, a journalist obsessed with the past, reconsiders events or figures often misunderstood by the public. Listen on Apple.

2. Ladies & Tangents

If you prefer staying in but want to feel connected, Jeri and Ciara, best friends and cousins, host relatable conversations on companionship and human rights. Listen on Apple.

3. Scam Goddess

Laci Mosley hosts Scam Goddess, keeping you updated on the latest scams and exploring historic hoodwinks with comedians. It's true crime without the death—true fun crime! Listen on Apple.

4. Axe of the Blood God

For RPG fans, join Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen as they delve into Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and other role-playing games. Listen on Apple.

5. What's Good Games

Gaming enthusiasts can tune into What's Good Games, where Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Riana Manuel-Peña analyze video game news and share impressions of upcoming titles. Listen on Apple.

6. My Favorite Murder

The original hit true crime comedy podcast, My Favorite Murder, hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, invites you to join the "Murderinos" fan club. Listen on Apple.

7. This Ends At Prom

This Ends at Prom analyzes the impact of womanhood in coming-of-age and teen girl movies from queer, feminist, cisgender, and trans perspectives. Hosted by wives BJ Colangelo and Harmony Colangelo. Listen on Apple.

8. Girlfriend Material

Rosie Turner's "Gay-Z" podcast, Girlfriend Material, offers funny stories, cheeky chats, and moving moments for everyone on their LGBTQ+ journey. Listen on Apple.

9. A Little Queer

Dive into queer culture, advice, and media with hosts Capri and Ashley on A Little Queer. Listen on Apple.

10. The Artist In Me Is Dead

Explore creativity with host Rhonda Willers on The Artist In Me Is Dead, discussing how to nurture your dormant artistic side and tap into creativity. Listen on Apple.

11. Conversations With Moon Body Soul

Join Kaitee Tyner, host and owner of Moon Body Soul, for discussions on holistic wellness and self-care inspiration. Listen on Apple.