National Spelling Bee sparks outrage by accepting ‘womyn’ as alternative spelling for ‘women’.
This is getting ridiculous. What next, mxn?
At a Glance
- Scripps National Spelling Bee includes ‘womyn’ in third-grade word list
- Decision based on Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary listings
- Move ignites controversy, especially among conservatives
- Debate centers on language evolution vs. political correctness
Spelling Bee’s Controversial Decision
The Scripps National Spelling Bee has stirred up a hornet’s nest by including ‘womyn’ as an acceptable alternative spelling for ‘women’ in its competition.
It’s not, by the way.
This decision, affecting even third-grade contestants, has ignited a firestorm of criticism, particularly from conservative circles. The inclusion of this feminist variant, intended to remove the ‘man’ from ‘woman’, has thrust the century-old competition into the center of a heated debate about language evolution and social agendas in education.
The controversy comes as the Spelling Bee prepares for its 2025 National Finals, coinciding with the competition’s 100th anniversary. Critics argue that introducing such politically charged language to young children is inappropriate and unnecessary. Supporters of the decision, however, might view it as a step towards inclusivity and recognition of linguistic diversity.
National Spelling Bee under fire for allowing feminist spellings for third-graders: ‘Womyn’ https://t.co/zKtIq6WrBw pic.twitter.com/HDNKnoMkeM
— New York Post (@nypost) December 13, 2024
Bee’s Defense and Dictionary Dilemma
In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for the Scripps National Spelling Bee defended the decision, citing the competition’s longstanding reliance on the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary as its sole authority. The spokesperson explained the rationale behind including ‘womyn’ in the study lists for the 2024-2025 school year, emphasizing that it’s listed as an alternate spelling in their official dictionary.
“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,” a spokesperson said.
Seriously.
This explanation, however, has done little to quell the outrage. Many see the inclusion of ‘womyn’ as pandering to a politically correct agenda rather than a genuine effort to broaden linguistic understanding. The controversy has been amplified by popular conservative accounts and media outlets, drawing comparisons to satirical content and fueling debates about the direction of education in America.
The ‘womyn’ controversy is not occurring in isolation. It follows a trend of dictionary updates that have sparked similar debates. In July 2022, Merriam-Webster updated its definition of ‘female’ to include aspects of gender identity, a move that was also met with criticism from conservative quarters. These changes reflect ongoing discussions about gender, language, and identity in society.
“The dictionary also has a separate entry for ‘gender identity’: ‘a person’s internal sense of being male, female, some combination of male and female, or neither male nor female’,” Breitbart News reported.
Social media has been ablaze with reactions, ranging from disbelief to outright condemnation. Many users express frustration over what they perceive as an unnecessary injection of political ideology into a children’s educational competition. Others question the wisdom of introducing such concepts to third-graders, arguing that it complicates language learning without clear benefits.
Sometimes it feels like the world has gone mad, doesn’t it?
