8 Ways to Honor Women's History Month Now

At IGN, we take pride in celebrating the incredible women who shape our industry and the world beyond it—not just during Women’s History Month, but all year long. From creators to innovators, leaders to trailblazers, women continue to inspire change and drive progress across every field. We invite you to join us in recognizing their impact through learning, storytelling, and support. Here's a closer look at the origins of Women’s History Month and several meaningful ways you can participate this March.

The Origins of Women's History Month

Women's History Month traces its roots back to 1987, when the National Women’s History Project submitted a petition with the goal of officially recognizing the many contributions women have made to American society and history. The initiative aimed 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, what we now know as Women’s History Month started as “Women’s History Week” in 1982, observed during the week of March 7. It wasn’t until five years later that the celebration expanded into a full month-long national observance.

Since then, efforts have continued to preserve and promote the recognition of women's historical impact. Every U.S. president since 1995 has issued annual proclamations designating March as Women’s History Month, reinforcing the importance of honoring women's achievements across generations.

Quick Guide – 8 Meaningful 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 Empowering Women

1. Learn About Women in History and Share Their Stories
You can discover countless inspiring stories about women throughout history—from inventors and scientists to activists and political leaders. Reliable sources like the Smithsonian, StoryCorps, and The History Channel offer valuable insights into these remarkable lives.

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
There are countless ways to support women entrepreneurs—whether through shopping, collaboration, or advocacy. Online platforms such as Etsy, WBD, and FoundedByHer make it easy to find and support women-led businesses. Additionally, Amazon allows users to filter results to show only products from women-owned retailers.

Beyond purchasing, supporting career growth and visibility for women in business is equally important. Organizations like SoundGirls provide critical networking and mentorship opportunities for women in male-dominated industries like audio engineering.

Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.

3. Watch Movies or Shows Featuring Women or Directed by Women
If you're looking for inspiration, streaming services like Hulu and SHOWTIME WOMEN® curate collections that highlight films and series directed by women or featuring strong female leads.

One standout film from the 2025 awards season is Anora, starring Mikey Madison, who took home an Oscar for her role.

[How to Watch Anora]

What We Said in 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 where else to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

From Greta Gerwig’s Barbie to Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker, there are numerous critically acclaimed films directed by women. Streaming services like Netflix make it simple to explore movies created by female directors.

Watch Women's Sports

Supporting women in sports is another great way to celebrate. Platforms like ESPNW and justwomenssports.com offer comprehensive coverage of leagues such as the NWSL, WNBA, and NCAA Women’s tournaments.

We also love highlighting organizations like WOW (Women of Wrestling), which continues to gain popularity and media attention.

[Where to Buy Play It Forward]

ESPN+

Get a standalone ESPN+ subscription or bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for a complete entertainment package.

4. Read Books Written by Women
Whether you prefer fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, there’s no shortage of books written by women across all genres. According to BookRiot, women have published more than 50% of all books since 2020, contributing significantly to the literary world.

Here are some highly recommended titles:

• 10 books by Black women to add to your reading list
• Top-rated books by women authors via Amazon

Best-Selling Books by Women Authors

Browse Amazon’s most popular titles updated daily—available in Kindle or paperback formats.

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games
Behind many beloved games are talented women in roles ranging from design to writing and direction. Titles like Portal, Celeste, Uncharted, and even classic arcade hits like Centipede were brought to life by women creators.

Want to learn more about the current state of gender diversity in gaming? A 2017 study titled A Snapshot of Women in Video Game Development still offers relevant insights today based on interviews with 55 female and non-binary developers.

For curated lists of games created by women, check out resources like G2A’s list and Microsoft’s games curated by women.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women
Whether you're into news, comedy, true crime, or pop culture, there’s a wide range of podcasts hosted by women worth exploring. NY Public Radio compiled a list of over 100 women-hosted podcasts, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Here are some top recommendations:

1. You're Wrong About

Hosted by journalist Sarah, this podcast re-examines misunderstood figures and events in history.
Listen on Apple

2. Ladies & Tangents

A fun and insightful podcast from best friends Jeri and Ciara, discussing everything from human rights to everyday life.
Listen on Apple

3. Scam Goddess

Laci Mosley dives into historic and modern-day scams with humor and insight, alongside guest comedians.
Listen on Apple

4. Axe of the Blood God

Join Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen as they explore RPGs like Final Fantasy and Skyrim.
Listen on Apple

5. What's Good Games

Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher, and Riana Manuel-Peña discuss the latest video game news and reviews.
Listen on Apple

6. My Favorite Murder

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark bring true crime and dark humor together in one of the most popular podcasts of its kind.
Listen on Apple

7. This Ends At Prom

A deep dive into teen girl movies from queer and feminist perspectives, hosted by BJ Colangelo and Harmony Colangelo.
Listen on Apple

8. Girlfriend Material

Rosie Turner explores LGBTQ+ themes with humor, heart, and honesty in this engaging podcast.
Listen on Apple

9. A Little Queer

Capri and Ashley chat about queer culture, advice, and media in a friendly and informative format.
Listen on Apple

10. The Artist In Me Is Dead

Host Rhonda Willers explores creativity and how people tap into their artistic potential.
Listen on Apple

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