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

At IGN, we're thrilled to honor the remarkable women who have shaped our history and industry, fostering creativity, inspiration, and empowerment. These trailblazers drive positive change not just during Women's History Month, but every single day. We invite you to join us in continuous learning, celebrating, and amplifying women's voices. Dive into the history of Women's History Month and discover meaningful 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, it started as "Women’s History Week" during the week of March 7 in 1982, before expanding 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 and celebration.

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

Delve into the inspiring stories of women throughout history, from inventors to leaders. Start your journey with resources like the Smithsonian's website archives, StoryCorps, and The History Channel. For further reading, explore narratives such as:

• 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 entrepreneurs by shopping at women-owned businesses. Platforms like Etsy and directories such as WBD and FoundedByHer are excellent places to start. Amazon also offers a filter to shop women-owned retailers across various categories. Beyond purchasing, supporting women's career growth is crucial. Organizations like SoundGirls provide networking and support for women in the audio industry, helping to elevate their professional journeys.

Also, check out 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers for more inspiration.

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

Explore the rich tapestry of films and shows led or directed by women. Hulu offers a curated collection of content featuring Black female leads, while Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN® network highlights groundbreaking work by female talents. Following the 2025 Oscars, catch up on winners like Anora, starring Mikey Madison.

Our review of Anora by writer Lex Briscuso praised it for its moving narrative, stating, "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."

Discover more ways to watch Anora and explore legendary films directed by women, such as Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker, easily found on Netflix.

Watch Women's Sports

Don't miss out on women's sports, covered extensively by ESPNW across NWSL, WNBA, NCAAW, and more. Justwomenssports.com is dedicated solely to women's sports. We also spotlight Women of Wrestling (WOW), which you can stream here. With the rising popularity of women's sports, catch most major events on:

4. Read Books Written by Women

Dive into the vast world of literature crafted by women, spanning all genres. Since 2020, women have published more than 50% of all books, boosting the industry's growth by 12.3% in 2021. For an impactful reading list, check out 10 books by Black women and explore top-rated books by women authors on Amazon.

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Celebrate the creativity of women in gaming with titles like Portal, Celeste, Uncharted, and Centipede. Celeste's journey to becoming one of the most significant trans games ever is particularly noteworthy. Explore lists curated by G2A, Microsoft, and other platforms to discover games created, developed, or directed by women. Learn more about the challenges faced by women in the industry through insights from female and non-binary game development professionals.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

Immerse yourself in the diverse world of podcasts hosted by women, covering everything from news and history to comedy and true crime. NY Public Radio has compiled a list of over 100 women-hosted podcasts, available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and more. Here are some recommendations from IGN's podcast enthusiasts:

• You're Wrong About - Sarah reconsiders public misconceptions with journalist precision.
• Ladies & Tangents - Jeri and Ciara share relatable conversations on companionship and human rights.
• Scam Goddess - Laci Mosley explores historic scams with comedians in a fun twist on true crime.
• Axe of the Blood God - Dive into RPGs with Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen.
• What's Good Games - Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Riana Manuel-Peña discuss the latest in gaming.
• My Favorite Murder - Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark offer a comedic take on true crime.
• This Ends at Prom - BJ and Harmony Colangelo analyze teen girl movies from queer and feminist perspectives.
• Girlfriend Material - Rosie Turner shares funny stories and moving moments from the LGBTQ+ community.
• A Little Queer - Capri and Ashley delve into queer culture and media.
• The Artist In Me Is Dead - Rhonda Willers explores creativity and how to nurture it back to life.
• Conversations With Moon Body Soul - Kaitee Tyner discusses holistic wellness and self-care.