Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines has publicly criticized the Scripps National Spelling Bee for including “womyn” as an alternative spelling of “women” in its list of approved study words for third-grade contestants.
Gaines expressed her frustration during an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity on Thursday, calling the decision part of the “fabricated issues” surrounding gender politics.
“How lucky are we to live in the United States of America, where the spelling of women, never mind the definition, has become a national debate,” Gaines said.
She argued that issues like this are created by individuals who “believe they’re marginalized or oppressed” but are, in her words, living in “the greatest nation in the entire world.”Gaines rose to prominence after her criticism of trans athlete Lia Thomas and has since been a vocal figure in debates about gender and women’s sports.
