Celebrate Women's History Month: 8 Great Ways

At IGN, we're thrilled to celebrate the incredible women who shape our industry and world—creators, innovators, and changemakers. This isn't just a March thing; it's an ongoing commitment. Join us as we learn from, celebrate, and amplify women's voices. Here's your guide to Women's History Month and how to make the most of it this March.

The History of Women's History Month

Women's History Month began in 1987, thanks to a petition by the National Women’s History Project. Their goal? To celebrate women's contributions to the United States and acknowledge their remarkable achievements throughout American history across various fields.

Interestingly, it started as "Women’s History Week" in 1982, observed during the week of March 7th. It wasn't until 1987 that it expanded to a month-long national celebration. Since 1995, every U.S. President has issued a proclamation officially 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 incredible stories of women throughout history—inventors, leaders, and so many more. Excellent resources include museum websites like the Smithsonian, organizations founded by women 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

From artists to streamers and beyond, there are countless ways to support women in business. Shop online at sites like Etsy, browse directories such as WBD and FoundedByHer, or use Amazon's filter to find women-owned retailers. Beyond purchasing, actively supporting women's career growth is crucial. Organizations like SoundGirls provide networking and support for women in the audio industry, offering workshops and resources. Sharing success stories and promoting these organizations helps significantly.

Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.

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

Explore streaming services like Hulu (which features shows and movies with Black female leads) and Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN®, showcasing films and documentaries from female talents.

Following the 2025 Oscars, catch up on hit films like Anora, starring Oscar winner Mikey Madison.

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."

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See it at Hulu

Here are more ways to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

Beyond female leads, celebrate iconic films directed by women, including Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker. Streaming services like Netflix offer easy browsing by director.

Watch Women's Sports

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), with whom we've partnered and interviewed at events like SDCC. Find WOW streaming options here. Stream many major events on:

ESPN+

4. Read Books Written by Women

Women authors are prolific and diverse! BookRiot notes that women have published over 50% of all books since 2020. Explore a wide range of genres and authors. For a powerful start, consider this list of 10 books by Black women.

Here are some top-rated books by women authors via Amazon.

Best-Selling Books by Women AuthorsBrowse 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

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Many incredible games are created by women—from Portal and Celeste to the Uncharted series and Centipede. Explore game lists featuring women creators, such as G2A's list, Microsoft's curated selections, and others online. Consider the impact of games like Celeste and its journey to becoming a significant game in the trans community.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

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

• You're Wrong About: Sarah explores miscast historical figures and events.
• Ladies & Tangents: Jeri and Ciara discuss companionship, human rights, and more.
• Scam Goddess: Laci Mosley covers 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 cover video game news.
• My Favorite Murder: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark's true crime comedy podcast.
• This Ends At Prom: BJ and Harmony Colangelo analyze coming-of-age movies from queer and feminist perspectives.
• Girlfriend Material: Rosie Turner's LGBTQ+ focused comedy podcast.
• A Little Queer: Capri and Ashley discuss queer culture, advice, and media.
• The Artist In Me Is Dead: Rhonda Willers explores creativity and self-expression.
• Conversations With Moon Body Soul: Kaitee Tyner shares holistic wellness insights.