At IGN, we proudly celebrate the women who shape our industry and world—their creativity, inspiration, empowerment, and positive impact. This isn't just for March; it's an ongoing commitment. Join us in celebrating and amplifying women's voices. Here's a guide to Women's History Month and ways to participate this March.

The History of Women's History Month

Women's History Month originated from 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 began 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.

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 remarkable stories of women throughout history—inventors, leaders, and more. Excellent resources include museum websites like the Smithsonian, 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 entrepreneurs across various fields. Shop online at Etsy, browse directories like WBD and FoundedByHer, or use Amazon's filter to find women-owned retailers. Beyond purchasing, actively 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 significantly contributes to their advancement.

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 diverse female talent. Catch up on recent award-winning films like Anora, starring Mikey Madison.

[](link to Anora)

What We Said in 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."

[](link to Play it Forward)

[](link to Hulu)

Beyond Anora, revisit classic films like Barbie, American Psycho, and The Hurt Locker, all directed by women. Streaming services like Netflix offer curated selections of women-directed films.

Discover Women Directors

Remember women's sports! ESPNW covers major leagues (NWSL, WNBA, NCAAW), and justwomenssports.com is dedicated solely to women's athletics. We also highlight WOW (Women of Wrestling). Stream many events on ESPN+.

[](link to ESPN+)

4. Read Books Written by Women

Women authors are prolific! BookRiot notes that women now publish over 50% of all books. Explore diverse genres and authors; consider lists like "10 books by Black women."

[](link to Amazon Best Sellers)

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Many incredible games feature women creators, developers, and designers. From Portal and Celeste to Uncharted and Centipede, explore diverse game lists featuring women's contributions (G2A, Microsoft).

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

Discover a vast range of podcasts hosted by women across genres. NY Public Radio offers a comprehensive list. Here are a few recommendations:

• You're Wrong About: Sarah's historical deep dives.
• Ladies & Tangents: Jeri and Ciara's relatable conversations.
• Scam Goddess: Laci Mosley's true fun crime podcast.
• Axe of the Blood God: RPG gaming analysis.
• What's Good Games: Video game news and reviews.
• My Favorite Murder: True crime comedy.
• This Ends At Prom: Analysis of teen girl movies.
• Girlfriend Material: LGBTQ+ focused comedy.
• A Little Queer: Queer culture, advice, and media.
• The Artist In Me Is Dead: Exploring creativity.
• Conversations With Moon Body Soul: Holistic wellness.

(Note: Links to Apple Podcasts are implied but not explicitly included for brevity.)