A Period Emoji Is Coming and It's About Damn Time
For all the time we spend talking about periods, it’s appalling (appalling!) that not a single emoji can adequately represent that time of the month. A syringe, a germ, and poo have all made the cut but there’s no emoji that can adequately speak to our monthly menstruation? Seriously?! Finally, that’s about to change. A period emoji is being released this moth.
The period emoji, a rather cute little droplet of blood, comes after a campaign by Plan International UK, a charity fighting for girls’ rights around the globe, to help put an end to period stigma. Literally everyone on the planet either has a period or knows someone who does but still, period stigma remains a very real thing. A 2017 survey by Plan International UK found nearly half of girls in the UK between 14 and 21 were embarrassed by their period. But it’s not just about embarrassment over Aunt Flo that matters—around the globe, period stigma keeps women and girls from work and school. In some cultures, period stigma even threatens women’s lives.
The shame needs to stop. “With emoji becoming one of the fastest growing global languages, we realized having a period emoji could help change things,” Plan International UK said. Think about it: if the poop emoji has made it easier to talk about that bodily function, a period emoji can help normalize menstruation. At least it’s a start.
The droplet of blood is admittedly kind of generic (Plan International UK’s first choice period emoji, a pair of period panties, was rejected by the global governing body of emojis) so, may we suggest a combination of the period emoji followed by ?, ? and ? to make sure your point gets across.
So when can you start getting your menstruation emoji on? The period emoji will be added to your keyboard sometime this year, according to Emojipedia. It’s not the only stigma-reducing emoji on the way—new emojis for 2019 also include people in wheelchairs and people with disabilities.
Here’s to ending stigmas one emoji at a time.