8 Immediate Ways to Honor Women's History Month

At IGN, we're thrilled to celebrate women who have shaped our history and industry through their creativity, inspiration, and empowerment. We believe in recognizing their contributions not just during Women's History Month, but every month. We invite you to join us in learning about, celebrating, and amplifying women's voices. Here's a comprehensive guide to 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" during the week of March 7 in 1982. It expanded to a month-long celebration in 1987. Since 1995, every 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

Dive into the rich tapestry of women's contributions to history. Explore resources like the Smithsonian's archives, StoryCorps, and The History Channel. Here are some suggested reads to get you started:

• 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

Empower women in business by shopping from women-owned enterprises. Platforms like Etsy, Women Business Directory (WBD), and FoundedByHer are great places to find these businesses. Amazon also allows you to filter for women-owned retailers across various categories.

Supporting career growth is crucial. Organizations like SoundGirls provide networking and support for women in the audio industry. Sharing success stories and promoting organizations that offer workshops and 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

Explore content created by and featuring women. Hulu offers a collection of shows and movies with Black female leads, while SHOWTIME WOMEN® celebrates women in film and behind the camera.

Following the 2025 Oscars, catch up on hits like "Anora," where lead actress Mikey Madison won an Oscar.

What We Said in Our Anora Review

Writer Lex Briscuso praised "Anora" for its poignant exploration of sex work, class, and the broken promises of life, saying, "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."

7 Days Free### Hulu Free Trial

67See it at HuluFor more ways to watch "Anora," click here.

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 overlook women's sports. ESPNW covers major leagues like NWSL, WNBA, and NCAAW, while justwomenssports.com focuses solely on women's sports. IGN has also partnered with Women of Wrestling (WOW) and covered events like SDCC. Stream these 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 the vast world of literature by women authors, spanning every genre. BookRiot reports that since 2020, women have published over 50% of all books, contributing significantly to the industry's growth. Here's a list to kickstart your reading journey:

• 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

Discover games created by women, from classics like Portal and Celeste to modern hits like the Uncharted series and Centipede. Games like Celeste have made significant cultural impacts, such as its journey to becoming one of the most important trans games.

Women currently make up only about 22% of the video game industry. Learn more about this in a Snapshot of Women in Video Game Development in 2017.

Browse lists of games created by women on platforms like G2A and Microsoft to find your next favorite.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

Explore a diverse range of podcasts hosted by women, covering news, history, comedy, pop culture, and more. NY Public Radio has compiled a list of over 100 women-hosted podcasts. Here are some recommendations from IGN's podcast enthusiasts:

1. You're Wrong About

Sarah, a journalist, reconsiders misrepresented historical events and figures. 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 breaks down historic scams and hoodwinks with comedians in this fun true crime podcast. Listen on Apple.

4. Axe of the Blood God

Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore the world of role-playing games. Listen on Apple.

5. What's Good Games

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

6. My Favorite Murder

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark host this popular true crime comedy podcast. Join the "Murderinos" fan club. Listen on Apple.

7. This Ends At Prom

BJ and Harmony Colangelo analyze teen girl movies from queer, feminist, and trans perspectives. Listen on Apple.

8. Girlfriend Material

Rosie Turner shares funny stories and moving moments in this "Gay-Z" podcast. Listen on Apple.

9. A Little Queer

Capri and Ashley dive into queer culture, advice, and media. 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. Listen on Apple.