8 Ways to Honor Women's History Month Now

At IGN, we're thrilled to celebrate the remarkable women who have shaped our history and continue to inspire within our industry. Their creativity, empowerment, and positive influence are not just highlights of Women's History Month but are recognized and celebrated by us every month. We invite you to join us in learning more about these incredible women, celebrating their achievements, and amplifying their voices. Here's a comprehensive guide to Women's History Month and some engaging ways to celebrate throughout 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, with the aim to honor the vast contributions of women to the United States and acknowledge their specific achievements across various fields throughout American history.

Interestingly, Women's History Month evolved from "Women’s History Week," which was first observed during the week of March 7 in 1982. It was in 1987 that this celebration expanded to a month-long event. Since 1995, every U.S. President has issued annual proclamations designating March as Women’s History Month, ensuring its continued recognition.

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

Delving into the rich tapestry of women's history is both enlightening and inspiring. You can start your journey at various online resources, including museum archives like the Smithsonian, organizations such as StoryCorps, and educational platforms 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

Supporting women in business, from artists to streamers, is crucial. You can easily find and shop from women-owned businesses on platforms like Etsy, and utilize directories such as WBD or FoundedByHer. Amazon also offers filters to shop from women-owned retailers across various categories.

Additionally, fostering the career growth of women is vital. Organizations like SoundGirls offer networking opportunities and support for women in the audio industry, helping to build a robust support network.

Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.

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

If you're looking for where to start, Hulu offers a curated collection of shows and movies with Black female leads, while Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN® network showcases unique, daring, and groundbreaking content from female talents both in front of and behind the camera.

Following the 2025 Oscars, don't miss out on the acclaimed film Anora, starring the Oscar-winning actress Mikey Madison.

What We Said in Our Anora Review

Writer Lex Briscuso praised "Sean Baker’s hysterical and moving Anora," which showcases the lead character's purity of heart and explores themes of sex work, class, and broken promises, resonating deeply with audiences.

7 Days Free### Hulu Free Trial

67See it at HuluFor more ways to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

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

Watch Women's Sports

Don't overlook women's sports. Platforms like ESPNW cover major sports including NWSL, WNBA, and NCAAW, while justwomenssports.com focuses exclusively on women's sports. We're also proud to partner with and have interviewed Women of Wrestling (WOW) at events like SDCC. Find out where to stream WOW here.

Women's sports across soccer, basketball, wrestling, and more are gaining popularity, and you can catch most major events on:

### ESPN+

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

4. Read Books Written by Women

The literary world is rich with works by women authors across all genres. According to BookRiot, women have been publishing more than 50% of all books since 2020, contributing significantly to the industry's growth.

Dive into some powerful reads, including 10 books by Black women to enrich your reading list.

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

Many incredible games have been crafted by women creators, developers, directors, designers, and writers. From Portal to Celeste, and from the Uncharted series to classic arcade games like Centipede, women have left an indelible mark on gaming. Notably, Celeste's journey to becoming one of the most culturally significant trans games is a testament to this impact. (You can purchase or download Celeste on Nintendo.com for $19.99).

Despite women making up only about 22% of the video game industry, their contributions are invaluable. Explore a Snapshot of Women in Video Game Development from 2017 for insights into their experiences.

Discover more games created by women through lists curated by platforms like G2A and Microsoft.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

From news and history to comedy and true crime, there's a podcast for every interest hosted by women. NY Public Radio offers a list of over 100 women-hosted podcasts, available on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Amazon.

Here are some recommendations from IGN's podcast enthusiasts:

1. You're Wrong About

Sarah, a journalist obsessed with the past, reconsiders misunderstood people and events. Listen on Apple.

2. Ladies & Tangents

Jeri and Ciara, best friends and cousins, share relatable conversations about companionship and human rights. Listen on Apple.

3. Scam Goddess

Laci Mosley explores the latest scams and historic hoodwinks with comedians, offering true fun crime. Listen on Apple.

4. Axe of the Blood God

Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen delve into RPGs, from Final Fantasy to Skyrim. Listen on Apple.

5. What's Good Games

Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Riana Manuel-Peña analyze video game news and provide hands-on impressions. Listen on Apple.

6. My Favorite Murder

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark host this original true crime comedy podcast, welcoming you to the "Murderinos" fan club. Listen on Apple.

7. This Ends At Prom

BJ Colangelo and Harmony Colangelo explore the staying power of womanhood in coming-of-age and teen girl movies from queer and feminist perspectives. Listen on Apple.

8. Girlfriend Material

Rosie Turner's "Gay-Z" podcast features funny stories and moving moments, welcoming everyone on their LGBTQ+ journey. Listen on Apple.

9. A Little Queer

Capri and Ashley dive into queer culture, advice, and media, becoming your new BFFs. Listen on Apple.

10. The Artist In Me Is Dead

Rhonda Willers explores creativity and how to nurture it back to life. Listen on Apple.

11. Conversations With Moon Body Soul

Kaitee Tyner discusses holistic wellness and self-care inspiration. Listen on Apple.