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

At IGN, we're thrilled to celebrate the incredible women who shape our industry and world—their creativity, inspiration, empowerment, and positive impact deserve recognition not just this month, but every month. Join us in celebrating and amplifying women's voices. This March, let's delve into Women's History Month and explore ways to commemorate it.

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 celebrate women's contributions to the United States and acknowledge their significant achievements throughout American history across various fields.

Interestingly, it began as "Women’s History Week" in 1982, observed during the week of March 7th. Its expansion to a month-long national celebration in 1987 followed continued advocacy. 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 countless others. Excellent resources include museum websites like the Smithsonian, organizations like StoryCorps, and reputable historical publishers such as 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—artists, streamers, and entrepreneurs. Shop online at Etsy, browse directories like WBD and FoundedByHer, or use Amazon's filters to find women-owned retailers. Beyond purchasing, actively supporting women's career growth is crucial. SoundGirls, for example, fosters a supportive network for women in the audio industry. Sharing success stories and promoting organizations offering workshops and networking resources helps uplift 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, while Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN® showcases films and documentaries by and about women.

Following the 2025 Oscars, consider watching award-winning 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."

Beyond individual films, celebrate women directors with classics like Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker. Streaming services like Netflix offer curated selections.

Don't forget women's sports! ESPNW covers major leagues (NWSL, WNBA, NCAAW), and Just Women's Sports is a dedicated resource. We also highlight WOW (Women of Wrestling). Stream many events on ESPN+.

4. Read Books Written by Women

Women authors are prolific and diverse. BookRiot notes that women published over 50% of all books since 2020. Explore various genres and authors; consider this list of 10 books by Black women.

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Numerous games feature women creators, developers, and designers. From Portal and Celeste to Uncharted and Centipede, women have made significant contributions. Explore game lists highlighting women creators from sources like G2A and Microsoft.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

Discover podcasts hosted by women across various genres. NY Public Radio compiled a list of over 100. Here are a few recommendations:

• You're Wrong About: Sarah reconsiders miscast historical figures and events.
• Ladies & Tangents: Jeri and Ciara discuss companionship, human rights, and more.
• Scam Goddess: Laci Mosley explores scams and cons.
• 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 discuss video game news.
• My Favorite Murder: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark discuss true crime.
• 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.

(Note: All podcast recommendations are available on Apple Podcasts.)