8 Great Ways to Celebrate Women's History Month Right Now

At IGN, we proudly celebrate the women who shape our industry and the world—their creativity, inspiration, empowerment, and positive impact. This isn't just for March; it's a year-round commitment. Join us in celebrating and amplifying women's voices. Here’s everything you need to know about Women's History Month and how to celebrate it this March.

The History of Women's History Month

Women's History Month originated from a 1987 petition by the National Women’s History Project, aiming to recognize women's contributions to the United States and their achievements across various fields.

Interestingly, it began as “Women’s History Week” in 1982, expanding to a month-long national celebration in 1987. Since 1995, every U.S. President has issued a proclamation 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

Explore the remarkable stories of women throughout history—inventors, leaders, and more. Excellent resources include museum websites like the Smithsonian, women-led organizations such as StoryCorps, and reputable historical publishers like The History Channel.

Suggested Reads:

• How Women Taught Me to Love and Build Games
• 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

Support women in business—from artists to streamers and beyond. Shop online at Etsy, browse Women Owned Business Directories like WBD and FoundedByHer, or use Amazon's filter to find women-owned retailers. Beyond purchasing, actively supporting women's career growth is crucial. SoundGirls, for example, fosters a strong support network for women in the audio industry. Sharing success stories and promoting organizations offering workshops and networking resources significantly aids women in business.

Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.

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

Hulu features shows and movies with Black female leads, and Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN® showcases films and documentaries from female talents.

Following the 2025 Oscars, consider watching award-winning films like Anora, starring Oscar winner Mikey Madison.

[](link to Anora)

What We Said in Our Anora Review:

Writer Lex Briscuso stated, "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."

[](link to Hulu)

[](link to Play It Forward)

Beyond female leads, celebrate legendary films directed by women, such as Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker. Netflix offers easy browsing for women-directed films.

Don't forget women's sports! ESPNW covers major leagues (NWSL, WNBA, NCAAW, etc.), and justwomenssports.com is dedicated entirely to women's athletics. We also highlight WOW (Women of Wrestling). Stream major events on:

[](link to ESPN+)

4. Read Books Written by Women

Women now publish over 50% of all books. Explore the vast array of genres and authors. For a powerful starting point, consider these 10 books by Black women.

[](link to Amazon Best Sellers)

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Many fantastic games are created by women—from Portal and Celeste to the Uncharted series and Centipede. Learn more about the underrepresentation of women in game development (around 22%) and explore game lists featuring women creators on G2A, Microsoft, and other platforms.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

From news and history to comedy and true crime, countless podcasts are hosted by women. NY Public Radio offers a list of over 100. Here are a few recommendations:

• You're Wrong About: Sarah dives into historical misinterpretations.
• Ladies & Tangents: Jeri and Ciara discuss companionship and human rights.
• Scam Goddess: Laci Mosley explores scams and "fun crime."
• Axe of the Blood God: Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen discuss RPGs.
• What's Good Games: Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Riana Manuel-Peña analyze video game news.
• My Favorite Murder: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark explore true crime comedy.
• This Ends At Prom: BJ and Harmony Colangelo analyze coming-of-age films.
• Girlfriend Material: Rosie Turner shares funny stories and chats.
• A Little Queer: Capri and Ashley discuss queer culture and media.
• The Artist In Me Is Dead: Rhonda Willers explores creativity.
• Conversations With Moon Body Soul: Kaitee Tyner discusses holistic wellness.