At IGN, we're thrilled to celebrate the women who shape our industry and world—creators, inspirers, and agents of positive change. This isn't just for March; it's an ongoing commitment. Join us in celebrating and amplifying 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 originated with a 1987 petition by the National Women’s History Project, aiming to honor women's contributions to the United States and their achievements across various fields. Interestingly, it started as "Women’s History Week" in 1982, expanding 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 archives, women-led organizations such as 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 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 the audio industry. Sharing success stories and promoting organizations offering workshops and resources is crucial.

Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.

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

Explore streaming services like Hulu (featuring shows and movies with Black female leads) and Showtime's SHOWTIME WOMEN®, showcasing female talent. Catch up on award-winning films like the 2025 Oscar winner, Anora, starring Mikey Madison.

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."

[7 Days Free] [Hulu Free Trial] [See it at Hulu]

Here are more ways to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

Beyond individual performances, celebrate films directed by women, including classics like Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker. Streaming services like Netflix offer curated selections.

Watch Women's Sports

Support women's sports! ESPNW covers major leagues (NWSL, WNBA, NCAAW), and justwomenssports.com is a dedicated resource. We also highlight WOW (Women of Wrestling). Stream many events on:

[ESPN+] [Sign up for a standalone ESPN+ subscription or as part of the Disney Bundle.] [See it at ESPN+]

4. Read Books Written by Women

Dive into the vast world of books written by women, across all genres. According to BookRiot, women now publish over 50% of all books. Explore diverse authors; here's a list of 10 books by Black women to get you started.

Top-rated books by women authors [Best-Selling Books by Women Authors] [Browse Amazon's most popular best sellers] [See it at Amazon]

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Many incredible games are created by women—from Portal and Celeste to the Uncharted series and Centipede. Celeste's success highlights the impact of women in game development. Explore game lists featuring women creators on G2A, Microsoft, and other platforms.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

Discover podcasts hosted by women across various genres. NY Public Radio offers a list of over 100. IGN recommends:

• You're Wrong About: Sarah investigates misrepresented historical figures and events.
• Ladies & Tangents: Jeri and Ciara discuss relatable topics.
• Scam Goddess: Laci Mosley explores 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 delve into true crime with humor.
• This Ends At Prom: BJ and Harmony Colangelo analyze coming-of-age films.
• Girlfriend Material: Rosie Turner shares funny stories and chats.
• A Little Queer: Capri and Ashley discuss LGBTQ+ culture.
• The Artist In Me Is Dead: Rhonda Willers explores creativity.
• Conversations With Moon Body Soul: Kaitee Tyner discusses holistic wellness.