How to Celebrate Women's History Month Now

At IGN, we're passionate about highlighting the incredible women who shape our history and industry through creativity, inspiration, and positive change - not just in March, but year-round. We invite you to join us in amplifying women's voices through education and celebration. Let's explore Women's History Month together and discover meaningful ways to honor it this year.

The Origins of Women's History Month

Women's History Month traces its roots to a grassroots initiative by the National Women's History Project in 1987, originally conceived to "highlight women's invaluable contributions to American society across diverse fields throughout history."

What began as "Women's History Week" in March 1982 evolved into a month-long national celebration by 1987. Every U.S. president since 1995 has officially recognized March as Women's History Month through annual proclamations.

Quick Guide: 8 Ways to Celebrate Women's History Month

• Discover and Share Women's Historical Achievements
• Support Female Entrepreneurs and Professionals
• Watch Female-Directed Films and TV Shows
• Read Works by Women Authors
• Play Games Developed by Women
• Tune Into Women-Hosted Podcasts
• Volunteer With Women-Focused Organizations
• Donate to Programs Supporting Women

1. Discover and Share Women's Historical Achievements

Countless resources exist to explore women's historical impact. Start with digital archives from institutions like the Smithsonian or platforms like StoryCorps, along with publications such as The History Channel.

Recommended reading:

• Women Who Shaped My Love for Game Development
• Yoko Shimomura's Journey: From Kingdom Hearts to Lifetime Achievement Awards
• Twelve Influential Black Women You Should Know
• 10 Groundbreaking Women Inventors

2. Support Female Entrepreneurs and Professionals

Discover women-owned businesses through platforms like Etsy or directories including WBD and FoundedByHer. Even Amazon offers filters to find women-owned retailers across various categories.

Organizations like SoundGirls provide vital support networks for women in audio production, demonstrating how we can uplift women professionally through mentorship and resource-sharing.

See also: 14 Brilliant Women Comic Book Writers.

3. Enjoy Films and Shows by or About Women

Streaming services make it easy to find female-centric content. Hulu features collections spotlighting Black female leads, while SHOWTIME WOMEN® showcases groundbreaking female filmmakers.

Recent Oscar-winner Anora, featuring Mikey Madison's acclaimed performance, offers a poignant exploration of complex themes through a female perspective.

As our reviewer noted, "Sean Baker's simultaneously hilarious and heart-wrenching Anora delivers its protagonist's emotional journey with raw authenticity."

Looking for more cinematic gems? Consider female-directed classics like Barbie, American Psycho, or The Hurt Locker, all available on platforms like Netflix.

4. Dive Into Books by Women Authors

Women now dominate publishing, accounting for over 50% of authors since 2020. Whether you prefer fiction or nonfiction, countless brilliant women writers await discovery. For powerful perspectives, explore 10 essential books by Black women authors.

5. Experience Games Created by Women

From Portal to Celeste, women have shaped gaming through creative vision and technical expertise. Despite comprising only about 22% of the industry, female developers continue making significant impacts. Discover curated lists of women-made games through resources like G2A and Microsoft's featured collections.

6. Listen to Women-Hosted Podcasts

Whatever your interests, women podcasters deliver compelling content. The NY Public Radio compiled over 100 women-hosted shows spanning every genre. Our team recommendations include:

• You're Wrong About (historical reexaminations)
• Ladies & Tangents (relatable life conversations)
• Scam Goddess (true crime without the tragedy)
• Axe of the Blood God (RPG deep dives)
• What's Good Games (gaming news and reviews)

These shows represent just a fraction of the incredible podcasting talent by women across all topics and perspectives.