+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

It's official: Google's new emoji of powerful women are on their way

Jul 14, 2016, 22:48 IST

Unicode

Your emoji are finally busting from the shackles of harmful gender stereotypes.

Advertisement

The Unicode Emoji Subcommittee has agreed to add 11 new professional emoji that Google designers created this spring to protest the subtle gender bias inherent in your texting. The committee is also adding female options to a bunch of previously male-specific characters.

If you look at your emoji keyboard right now, you'll see a woman emoji painting her nails, getting her hair cut, and donning a veil for her wedding, while a man emoji wears a hardhat or goes swimming.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

That disparity spurred Google designers to petition for gender inclusivity in existing emoji and suggest a wider range of professions for women as well as men.

Unicode approval doesn't mean that the new emoji will magically appear on your keyboard tomorrow, because software makers like Google, Apple, and Microsoft will still need to deploy them. But it does mean that they're officially on their way.

Advertisement

Google

Google

NOW WATCH: We tried the 'Uber-killer' that offers flat fares and no surge pricing

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Next Article