I’m wondering why there shouldn’t be one?
A period emoji is coming – and it’s a really big deal
Marie Claire Dorking,Yahoo Style UK Thu, Feb 7 5:18 AM EST
Scooch over Aubergine, there’s a new emoji about to drop on keyboards this spring: the period emoji.At long last Unicode, the bods-that-be who make the decisions about emojis, have confirmed the period emoji has been given the go-ahead.
The blood droplet is the result of a campaign led by girls’ rights group Plan International UK, which hoped the new symbol would help tackle period stigma.
It follows calls from more than 55,000 people for the introduction of a period emoji.
https://s.yimg.com/os/yc/html/embed-iframe-min.2d7621e2.htmlhttps://s.yimg.com/os/yc/html/embed-iframe-min.2d7621e2.htmlThe organisation campaigned for its inclusion following in-depth research highlighting a clear need to have more open discussions about periods.
A survey found that almost half (47%) of women aged 18-34 believed that a period emoji would make it easier to discuss the topic with friends and partners.
And news of the period emoji has gone down very well with the Internet with people taking to social media in their droves to express their feelings about the new e-sticker.
https://s.yimg.com/os/yc/html/embed-iframe-min.2d7621e2.htmlhttps://s.yimg.com/os/yc/html/embed-iframe-min.2d7621e2.html
https://s.yimg.com/os/yc/html/embed-iframe-min.2d7621e2.htmlhttps://s.yimg.com/os/yc/html/embed-iframe-min.2d7621e2.htmlhttps://s.yimg.com/os/yc/html/embed-iframe-min.2d7621e2.htmlCommenting on the new emoji Lucy Russell, head of girls’ rights and youth at Plan International UK, says:
“The inclusion of an emoji which can express what 800 million women around the world are experiencing every month is a huge step towards normalising periods and smashing the stigma which surrounds them.”
“For years we’ve obsessively silenced and euphemised periods. As experts in girls’ rights, we know that this has a negative impact on girls; girls feel embarrassed to talk about their periods, they’re missing out, and they can suffer health implications as a consequence.”
While Lucy acknowledges that the introduction of the emoji is not going to eradicate the stigma entirely, it could certainly help to switch up the conversation.
“An emoji isn’t going to solve this, but it can help change the conversation. Ending the shame around periods begins with talking about it.”
The blood drop emoji is the result of a successful submission to Unicode from Plan International UK and NHS Blood and Transplant.
While spearheaded by Plan International UK, the campaign was also backed by NHS Blood and Transplant, so effectively the new emoji could have a dual purpose.
Sure there might still be a way to go until all we see the shame surrounding periods abate entirely, but this little symbol could well be a click in the right direction to normalising menstruation.
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