It may be trivial but I hate it when women who are really pro-woman and feminists start spelling “woman” as “womyn”, because they don’t want the association with a man because they’re their own “WOMYN” and not “WO-MAN”, as a possessive of man.
I see a couple of things wrong with this
1. It’s just an English word, get over it. You don’t see the French getting mad at us for copping any of the following: “au contraire”, “carte blanche”, and mispronouncing them TO BOOT, do you?
It’s just as stupid as “Freedom Fries” instead of “French Fries” because the French refused to help the Americans.
As far as I know anyway, French Fries were actually invented by Belgians, who called it “potatoes, frenched and fried”. Frenched, being a style of how they cut the veggie, not so much referring to France and French people themselves.
2. It’s just a spelling. Woman sounds the same as womyn. And if you tried to say “Woe-min” instead of “Woo-mehn”, I’d ask you to keep repeating the word until I finally understand what you’re saying and/or you tell me you’re trying to pronounce the spelling “womyn”.
You’re just promoting bad spelling all around. Like with people misspelling basic words like “alot” instead of the proper “a lot”, or not making the distinction between “its” and “it’s”, or “their, they’re and there”…
3. Men aren’t all that bad. Sure, some men suck, but so do some women. You don’t see MEN getting all up in arms trying to change words to identify and create a utopia with only men do you?
It affects both sides, not just women – men get discriminated against too, especially white males. And besides, you couldn’t have babies or be born into the world without a man unless you’ve found the secret to producing asexually.
4. Lastly, it makes me think that you’re being pretentious idiots to try and change a word because the origin offends you and you don’t want to be associated with a man.
So what if we’re associated with men? Our fathers were men, and our brothers, our cousins, our grandfathers – great people and awful people alike were men. Just as how women were also great and awful. Both of our genders suck.
Why don’t you try kicking their ass on their own grounds with their rules, and then nyah-nyahing over them while they sit bruised and bloodied on the career playground? Think Cashmere Mafia, honey.
And are you going to get mad if you give birth to a son? Just because he’s a man? Didn’t think so. Let’s just hope you don’t make him grow up to be a man without a spine because women don’t even like men without spines and who are doormats, just as how men don’t like how some women don’t have brains of their own and follow them around like dogs.
Sorry, just hit a sore note. 
Bottom line: I understand that we don’t want to be considered less than equals with men, but that’s no reason to eff up the English language.
I love being a woman, acting like a woman, being feminine, and being able to see the real contrast between being with a man who is truly masculine without being overbearing and treats me like his equal and with respect, even when we argue.
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Andrea
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 10:47 AM:
I first came across “womyn” in university and it was heavily debated on university newsgroups. It’s a very divisive word, one that makes those extremist feminists who hate it not want to be associated with those who use it. Ditto about it dividing lesbians. I’ve seen the debates. It wasn’t pretty.
I agree with all your points and have given similar rants many times over the years.
Sharon Rose
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 11:13 AM:
Hi there!! I’m English and I’ve never heard of this spelt like that!! Just as well, because I enjoy being all woman too!!
Leanna
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 12:18 PM:
I completely agree. I’m so proud of my femininity and yes, I’ll kick anyone’s ass with it anytime
Drives me nuts the whole feminist thing…. I took a feminist class once and all it did was frustrate me!!
Frugal Urbanite
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 2:21 PM:
I used to get in fights with my Women’s Studies classes all the time over this. It’s bullshit like this that make women claim they’re not feminists because they don’t realize that you don’t need to be a man-hating, butch, angry, foaming-at-the-mouth nutjob to be a real feminist. All you really need is to want equal respect and equal rights.
It’s always the loud, crazy ones that ruin it for everyone else.
Rae
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 3:24 PM:
Ugh. “Womyn”? SERIOUSLY?!
This bugs me to no end as well. People take stuff like feminism and PC way too far! In the US, they say “mentally retarded” still (legally), but in Canada, it’s ‘proper’ to say…wait for it… “People with Developmental Disabilities”. You can barely even get away with “mentally disabled”!
You made some really great points here, FB. And I’m totally linking this
addy
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 4:09 PM:
I thought this was a joke at first. HOW RIDICULOUS. I think #4 is the one I identify with the most, even though the grammar and spelling thing does bug me as you know. It is pretentious and silly and I can’t believe that it was even suggested.
astarte's student
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 4:31 PM:
I agree with your bottom line – I understand the theory behind it, but I don’t think it’s an effective way to get your point across. Especially when they’re not related like that in many other languages.
And I second everything frugal ubranite said!
June Shin
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 5:14 PM:
Ugh, I hate the “womyn” spelling. I totally agree with everything you said about it. Oh, and the Freedom Fries! Don’t even get me started…
Penny
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 5:52 PM:
I have taken several Women’s studies courses and never heard of the “alternate” spelling for woman. That is so weird! I definitely agree with most of your points!
Budget Mama
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 6:17 PM:
I never heard of this. I agree with all of your points. I love being a ‘woman’ and won’t ever stop spelling it that way.
Mel
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 8:36 PM:
I’m all for women having equal rights and all, but “womyn”? Seriously? Some people just really have issues and can take things too far. I’m fully convinced that these type of people will never be happy, will always find something to gripe about, and are just too damn picky. Life’s too short to be offended by every little thing. Get over it.
Alexa
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 10:43 PM:
oh lord, i have never heard of such a thing! that is just beyond obnoxious!!!
ugh
Secretista
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 10:59 PM:
I’M SO ONBOARD WITH THIS POST!! You go girl!
Rina the Mama Bear
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 11:22 PM:
Another AMEN post! Going to linky love!
Foxie
on Jun 23rd, 2008
@ 11:40 PM:
ROFL. Yeah, I definitely agree that not ALL men are bad. I kind of love my husband, ya know? And he does treat me as his equal, since we’re best friends first in all of this…
I cringe each time I see “alot.” It really hurts my eyes, I think. I always joke with people who’s first language isn’t English that they tend to speak it better than those who have been speaking it their whole lives and have never learned anything else…
gilda
on Jun 24th, 2008
@ 1:05 AM:
i’m all for strong womEn and very proud to be one. although i’m a huge tomboy and will always be. i’m happy that we’ve have come a long way from the times of “women should be seen and not heard”, and it’s ok for us to wear pants now. but some girls just take it a little too far with their feminism declarations and i think it’s really annoying sometimes.
and even more annoying than that are people who don’t know the differences between “their” and “there” and “they’re”. i could forgive them if english was their 2nd language but if it’s the only language they speak, they need to go back to school.
Tanya
on Jun 24th, 2008
@ 3:01 AM:
What a great post!
Just imagine someone sitting in a room inventing silly things like new spellings for existing words… Get a life womAn! Learn to spell in the first place! “Alot”, “definately” and many other words… For me English is the 2nd language and I try to make sure there are no mistakes in whatever I write. Somebody should start a blog about this
Ali
on Jun 24th, 2008
@ 6:18 PM:
Amen, Sister. I am so linking to this
Anonymous
on Jun 25th, 2008
@ 11:27 AM:
I don’t understand the idea of feminism being “Let’s crush the spirits of all men, everywhere.” Men are our fathers, our grandfathers, our brothers.
No wonder men are scared of women who identify themselves as feminists; they think those women spout of garbage like this. As someone who considers herself a true feminist, I think this gives us a bad name.
Have you read the “Politically Correct Bedtime Stories”? The author repeatedly makes fun of feminist terms by using “womyn”. It’s a riot!
I remain, respectfully,
Anonymous
louise
on Jun 25th, 2008
@ 4:00 PM:
what a crackup! it reminds me of the woMAN in legally blonde that wanted semester changed to ovester. Some people have to much spare time!
Nerida
on Jun 30th, 2008
@ 9:24 PM:
I do agree in most respects, but what do you mean by:
“men get discriminated against too, especially white males”
I think white men are probably the most privileged group on earth.
I feel it’s good to recognise differences, but not if differences lead to discrimination.
I totally agree on all those spelling issues!
Fabulously Broke
on Jul 5th, 2008
@ 7:17 AM:
Andrea: No kidding, so not every feminist uses womyn?
Sharon Roe: *laugh* It might be a North American thing
Leanna: I’m glad I didn’t try.
Frugal: I think that’s the image most people have of feminists…
Rae: Thanks!! And it did make me a bit angry, even seeing it in Vancouver for a sex shop.
addy: The spelling bother me the worst.
astarte: Don’t get me wrong, I’m pro-woman and their rights as women esp in male dominated countrie, but no need to act all crazy
June: Me too! LOL
Penny: I heard it all the time
Mel: Ditto
Alexa: LOL… well, it’s the way they spelled it that made me angry.
Plus the idea behind it.
Secret: Thanks!
Rina: Thanks!!!
Foxie: It irritates me to see “alot” as well, and something I keep correcting people on.
gilda: That their, there and they’re bothers me to no end.
Tanya: LOL I think there is one out there – Red Pen or something?
Ali: Thanks!
Anon: I agree – I always have to preface with: I’m not a MILITANT feminist.
And I have that book!!!!!!!
louise: Honestly, it’s a language. they should get over it
Nerida: Well it’s the concept of reverse discrimination. Now companies are trying to hire minorities, ethnics or women even if their skills aren’t up to par and don’t do the job, just to meet their quota.
And white males are being avoided (in some cases, not all), because they’re white and male – for the same reasons you mentioned – they paint them all with the same brush as being the most privileged when some of them just aren’t
Andrea
on Jul 5th, 2008
@ 9:32 AM:
Interesting. There are 20 comments (not including the duplicate and FB’s own) and of those 19 support FB’s opinion (“women” over “womyn”) and 1 is neutral and doesn’t say either way. No one disagreed.
Apparently those who use “womyn” either don’t read the blog or don’t want to publicly disagree.
Fabulously Broke
on Jul 6th, 2008
@ 10:35 AM:
Andrea: still waiting for someone to disagree with me and to explain WHY they spell it as womyn instead of woman, considering the points I made….
erji
on Aug 3rd, 2008
@ 8:39 PM:
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ben
on Sep 14th, 2008
@ 1:32 PM:
i really enjoyed reading your blog entry. i came across it by searching ‘womyn’ on google because i, too, am really fed up with seemingly pretentious “feminists” who spell it that way. i’ve been reading bell hook’s ‘feminist theory,’ and according to her, the purpose of feminism is to end sexism, discrimination, exploitation, and oppression that has been caused by such wars between the sexes, and to create some sort of balance/equality. men shouldn’t be greater than women, and women shouldn’t be greater than men.i know it’s just a stupid word (or rather, a stupid spelling of a great word) but i think it just perpetuates that sort of alienation / oppression.