Women in Horror Month

How to Celebrate in 2021

By: Theresa Dillon

Women in Horror Month (WIHM) has finally arrived! COVID hasn’t kept me from keeping this yearly tradition alive and I hope you will partake too.

And there’s really no wrong way to celebrate. (Unless you participate in internet trolling. Just don’t.)

Here’s 6 great ways to make the most of WIHM.

1. Read poems, horror novels or short stories by women.

There are way too many to recommend in this single blog post but I can provide a few I have devoured over the last few years –

"Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
"Fangs" by Sara Andersen
"Her Body and Other Parties" by Carmen Maria Machado
"Pretty Monsters" by Kelly Link
"Hollow Kingdom" by Kira Jane Buxton

You can also check out upcoming readings at https://www.womeninhorrormonth.com/tag/public-reading/

2. Watch female written/directed films.

Despite the difficult year for theaters, female written and directed films had a fantastic year in 2020. Many critics had female directed films right at the top of their lists and 2021 is already geared up for some great films including horror gems Candyman and Fear Street.

To catch up on some amazing female horror from 2020, check out:

"Relic" (VOD)
"The Lodge" (Hulu)
"Sea Fever" (Hulu)
"Nocturne" (Amazon Prime)
"The Other Lamb" (Hulu)

3. Cheer on your favorite Final Girl.

This year, in addition to celebrating the female voices in horror, I decided to celebrate the strength and resilience of women by celebrating a Final Girl every day this February on my Instagram account (@charmedtree).

Share the Final Girls you like to cheer on and why with #finalgirlfeb. Let’s make this go viral!

Taylor Gentry from "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon"

4. Purchase that piece of art you’ve been eyeing.

My favorite thing to do at cons is browse the artist tables. Thanks to COVID, many of these artists haven’t had the chance to showcase their latest for us fans. So go venturing on Etsy. Search on DeviantArt. Support female artists and buy that painting!

Artist: Michelle Prebich - Shop at Batinyourbelfry.etsy.com

5. Share the names of the females you are loving right now.

You’re most likely scrolling Instagram or TikTok constantly throughout your day so post and share the females that are making a difference in your life or who have inspired you this month. Better yet, tag them in your post. I promise they won’t mind.

Cake by: @_sweetstacheamyo

6. Celebrate with others (safely).

Get the girls together for a Zoom movie night. Visit an outdoor screening (if you live in Phoenix, AZ – check out what’s coming to FilmBar at Pemberton PHX). Tell your daughter to write that dark short story she’s been thinking about and then read it.

Together, we can continue to make women seen, heard and supported.