Spelling Bee faces backlash for including womyn as alternate spelling for women

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is facing criticism for including "womyn" as an alternate spelling for "women" in its study list for third-graders. This term is defined by Merriam-Webster as a variant used in feminist contexts. Social media users have expressed disbelief and anger over the inclusion of "womyn," with some arguing it is not a legitimate English word. Critics say this decision undermines the academic nature of the competition. The Spelling Bee organizers stated that all words on the list come from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary, which recognizes "womyn" as an acceptable spelling. They aim to include all alternate spellings listed in the dictionary.