8 Ways to Honor Women's History Month Now %v

At IGN, we're thrilled to honor the incredible women who have shaped our history and industry. These trailblazers create, inspire, empower, and drive positive change not just during Women's History Month, but every day. We invite you to join us in learning, 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 of women to the United States and acknowledge their specific achievements across various fields throughout American history.

Did you know that Women’s History Month started as "Women’s History Week" in 1982, during the week of March 7? It wasn't until 1987 that it expanded into a month-long national celebration. Since 1995, every President has issued annual proclamations 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 rich tapestry of women's stories in history through various online resources. Start with museum archives like the Smithsonian, organizations such as StoryCorps, and history-based publishers 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

Support women in business by shopping from artists, streamers, and entrepreneurs. Use platforms like Etsy, and browse directories such as WBD or FoundedByHer to discover women-led businesses. Amazon also allows you to filter for women-owned retailers across various categories.

Supporting women's career growth is equally important. Organizations like SoundGirls provide networking opportunities for women in the audio industry, helping to build a strong support network. 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

Start with Hulu's collection of shows and movies featuring Black female leads, or explore Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN® network, which celebrates women in front of and behind the camera.

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

How to Watch Anora

What We Said in Our Anora Review

Writer Lex Briscuso praised Anora, 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. 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

67See it at Hulu

Here are more ways to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

Celebrate films directed by women, including hits like Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker. Streaming platforms like Netflix make it easy to find movies directed by women.

Watch Women's Sports

Where to Buy Play It Forward

Don't miss out on women's sports. From ESPNW covering major sports like NWSL, WNBA, and NCAAW, to dedicated sites like justwomenssports.com, there's plenty to watch. We also highlight WOW (Women of Wrestling), with whom we've partnered and interviewed at events like SDCC. Find out where to stream WOW here.

Women's sports are gaining popularity across soccer, basketball, wrestling, and more. Stream most major 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 books written by women across all genres. According to BookRiot, women have published more than 50% of all books since 2020, contributing to a 12.3% increase in the book industry's revenue in 2021, reaching $29.3 billion. This diversity not only enriches the industry but also resonates with readers.

For an educational read, consider adding 10 books by Black women to your 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

Discover games created by women, from Portal to Celeste, Uncharted, and the classic Centipede. Games like Celeste have made significant cultural impacts, such as its journey to becoming one of the most important trans games ever. 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. Learn more from a 2017 snapshot of women in video game development, which remains relevant today.

Browse game lists featuring women creators on platforms like G2A, and explore curated lists from Microsoft.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

Explore a wide range of podcasts hosted by women, covering news, history, comedy, pop culture, and more. NY Public Radio offers a list of over 100 women-hosted podcasts available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and other platforms. Here are some recommendations from IGN's podcast enthusiasts:

1. You're Wrong About

Sarah, a journalist obsessed with the past, reconsiders a person or event that's been miscast in the public imagination. Listen on Apple.

2. Ladies & Tangents

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

3. Scam Goddess

Laci Mosley keeps you updated on the latest scams and historic hoodwinks, offering true fun crime without the death. Listen on Apple.

4. Axe of the Blood God

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

5. What's Good Games

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

6. My Favorite Murder

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

7. This Ends At Prom

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