Attempt at masking menstruation flops
People love emojis, and why wouldn’t they? Having interesting little pictures to use in daily conversations to represent what we are currently doing or even how we’re feeling is fun. There’s a huge variety to choose from—emojis that range from food, tiny people, clothes, and animals to buildings, as well as a number of symbols. There has been a recent discussion, however, on whether or not we need new emojis aimed towards women to encourage them to talk about their periods. The idea has some merit, girls of all ages should feel comfortable talking about what they are going through and what they need on their monthly cycle. Encouraging conversation through the use of pictures, especially emojis that can be accessed by girls and boys alike through online discussion or even text does not seem like a good idea or even the right platform to take. Bodyform seems to believe otherwise.
The company has even launched a campaign for “femojis.” Currently, they have designed six images that are supposed to represent a girl’s period; from PMS, cramps, a sanitary pad, and, to my own horror, a pair of panties with a small bloodstain. So far, Bodyform’s petition has 4,000 signatures in support of Unicode, the company behind emojis, to produce these femojis and have gained a Twitter following of those who agree.
However, what happens once these femojis come out? Will girls actually want to use them? Some do, although, quite a few—myself included—definitely do not. It seems Bodyform and those in support have not considered or have even forgotten how cruel people can be over the Internet. After all, they are anonymous, and due to that anonymity, what’s going to stop someone from harassing a young girl through text or online conversation by sending her these images? This could make her feel even more embarrassed and unwilling to talk about her period. Not to mention the gender stereotype these bright pink emojis represent and encourage. For that reason alone, why are these new femojis just pink? Not all girls or women identify with that colour. Not to mention, pink was not originally a “girl” colour, it used to be considered a masculine colour back in the 18th century due to its bright and bold nature. These images are patronizing for girls as well; they are defining a period within six images and saying that’s all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less.
I applaud Bodyform for trying to start a conversation with those in support, but there has to be a better way, or at least a better platform to use. Modern technology is a tool for those who want to help and those who want to harm others, but maybe this is not the issue for which to use emojis. Just because people do not see a public discussion on menstruation with young girls does not mean it is not taking place with trusted individuals in a safe and private environment.