The Scripps National Spelling Bee, a revered academic competition in the United States, has found itself at the centre of controversy following the inclusion of the alternative feminist spelling “womyn” as an acceptable variant for “women.” This decision, first reported by Fox News, was met with significant backlash, particularly from conservative circles, sparking a broader debate on language, inclusivity, and political correctness.
The controversy stemmed from an approved study list for third-grade participants in the competition, where “women” was listed alongside its variant “womyn,” indicated with a double asterisk. This revelation came ahead of the 2025 National Finals, scheduled to take place next May, marking the 100th anniversary of the prestigious event.
The inclusion of “womyn” drew criticism from those who viewed it as an unnecessary modification to language. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “womyn” replaces the “-men” suffix in “women” to avoid association with the word “man,” making it a symbolic term often used in feminist contexts.
In response to the backlash, a Scripps spokesperson clarified that all competition words were sourced from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary, the official reference for the Spelling Bee.
The spokesperson stated: “During the competition, our policy is to accept any correct spelling listed in our official dictionary that isn't marked archaic or obsolete. The alternate spelling ‘womyn’ is therefore included on our study list because it is listed as an alternate spelling for ‘women’ in Merriam-Webster.”
The spokesperson further explained that the Bee aims to include all valid alternate spellings found in its official dictionary, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the English language for participants.
The decision to include “womyn” provoked significant criticism, particularly from conservative commentators on social media. One user wrote: “Hey, @ScrippsBee this is NOT acceptable. What a disappointment you have become. A non-woke organisation needs to take over the spelling bee if you're going to do this.”
Another user commented, “I guess ‘womyn’ is a sort of feminist version of ‘Latinx?’” referencing another term often criticised for its perceived political motivations.
Others shared a more nuanced perspective, recalling the informal use of “womyn” in specific academic settings like Women’s Studies departments. One individual noted: “Well, back in my days, the ‘womyn’ spelling was used in informal campus communications. Not sure its use would have been accepted in papers, unless possibly in the Women’s Studies Department.”
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