Celebrate Women's History Month: 8 Great Ways

At IGN, we celebrate the incredible women who shape our industry and world—creators, inspirers, and change-makers. This isn't just for March; it's a year-round commitment. Join us as we continue to learn from, celebrate, and amplify women's voices. Here's your guide to Women's History Month and how to celebrate 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 recognize their achievements throughout American history.

Interestingly, it started as “Women’s History Week” in 1982, observed during the week of March 7th. It expanded 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 incredible stories of women throughout history—inventors, leaders, and more. Start with online resources like the Smithsonian website archives, 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—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, support women's career growth. Organizations like SoundGirls provide networking and support for women in audio. Share success stories and promote organizations offering workshops and resources.

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® celebrates women in film. Following the 2025 Oscars, catch up on award-winning films like Anora, starring Mikey Madison.

Our Anora Review:

Writer Lex Briscuso said, "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."

[7 Days Free][Hulu Free Trial]

See it at Hulu

Here are more ways to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

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

Watch Women's Sports

ESPNW covers major women's sports, and justwomenssports.com is dedicated entirely to women's athletics. Don't forget WOW (Women of Wrestling)! Stream major events on ESPN+.

Sign up for ESPN+

4. Read Books Written by Women

Women authors are prolific! According to BookRiot, women publish over 50% of all books. Explore diverse genres and authors. Find a list of 10 books by Black women to add to your reading list.

Best-Selling Books by Women Authors

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Many incredible games are created by women. From Portal and Celeste to Uncharted and Centipede, celebrate their contributions. Explore game lists featuring women creators from sources like G2A and Microsoft.

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 compiled a list of over 100. Here are a few recommendations:

• You're Wrong About: Sarah investigates miscast historical figures and events.
• Ladies & Tangents: Jeri and Ciara discuss companionship, human rights, and more.
• Scam Goddess: Laci Mosley breaks down scams with comedic flair.
• Axe of the Blood God: Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore 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 discuss true crime.
• This Ends At Prom: BJ and Harmony Colangelo analyze teen girl movies.
• Girlfriend Material: Rosie Turner shares funny stories and chats.
• A Little Queer: Capri and Ashley explore queer culture.
• The Artist In Me Is Dead: Rhonda Willers explores creativity.
• Conversations With Moon Body Soul: Kaitee Tyner discusses holistic wellness.

(Note: All podcast links should be replaced with actual links to podcast platforms.)