At IGN, we proudly celebrate the women who shape our history, industry, and world—inspiring, empowering, and driving positive change. This isn't just for March; it's an ongoing commitment. Join us as we continue to learn, celebrate, and amplify women's voices. Here's your guide to Women's History Month and ways to celebrate this March.
The History of Women's History Month
Women's History Month originated with a 1987 petition from the National Women’s History Project, aiming to celebrate women's contributions to the United States and acknowledge their historical achievements across various fields.
Interestingly, it started as “Women’s History Week” in 1982, observed during the week of March 7th. It wasn't until 1987 that it expanded to a month-long national celebration. Since 1995, every U.S. President has issued a proclamation designating March as Women’s History Month.
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. Excellent resources include museum websites like the Smithsonian, organizations like StoryCorps, and reputable historical publishers like 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, explore Women Owned Business Directories like WBD and FoundedByHer, or filter your Amazon searches for women-owned retailers. Beyond purchasing, actively support women's career growth. Organizations like SoundGirls provide networking and support for women in the audio industry, offering workshops and resources. Share success stories and spread the word about such initiatives.
Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.
3. Watch Movies or Shows Featuring Women or Directed by Women
Explore streaming services like Hulu (which features shows and movies with Black female leads) and Showtime’s SHOWTIME WOMEN®, showcasing diverse female talent.
Following the 2025 Oscars, consider catching up on acclaimed films like Anora, starring Oscar winner Mikey Madison.
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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."
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Beyond individual films, celebrate women directors with classics like Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker. Streaming services like Netflix offer curated collections.
Don't forget women's sports! ESPNW covers major leagues (NWSL, WNBA, NCAAW), and justwomenssports.com is dedicated entirely to women's athletics. We also highlight WOW (Women of Wrestling). Stream many events on ESPN+.
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4. Read Books Written by Women
Women authors are prolific and diverse. According to BookRiot, women now publish over 50% of all books. Explore a wide range of genres and authors. For a powerful starting point, consider this list of 10 books by Black women.
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5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games
Many incredible games are created by women—from Portal and Celeste to the Uncharted series and Centipede. Explore game lists featuring women creators on sites like G2A and Microsoft. Consider the impact of games like Celeste—a testament to inclusive game design.
6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women
From news and history to comedy and true crime, numerous podcasts are hosted by women. NY Public Radio offers a list of over 100. Here are a few recommendations:
- You're Wrong About: Sarah explores misrepresented historical figures and events.
- Ladies & Tangents: Jeri and Ciara discuss relatable topics with humor and insight.
- Scam Goddess: Laci Mosley covers current and historical scams with comedic flair.
- 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 cover video game news.
- My Favorite Murder: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark explore true crime with humor.
- This Ends At Prom: BJ Colangelo and Harmony Colangelo analyze coming-of-age films.
- Girlfriend Material: Rosie Turner shares funny stories and insightful chats.
- A Little Queer: Capri and Ashley discuss LGBTQ+ culture, advice, and media.
- The Artist In Me Is Dead: Rhonda Willers explores creativity and inspiration.
- Conversations With Moon Body Soul: Kaitee Tyner discusses holistic wellness.
(Note: All podcast links should point to Apple Podcasts or a similar service, as appropriate.)
