Sexual wellness contributes to our overall well-being, and despite the easing stigma against sex and pleasure, many still find it difficult to discuss self-pleasure. As someone passionate about this issue, I feel the lack of a sex toy emoji in Unicode is a glaring absence worth addressing. This isn't about bringing vulgarity into our daily discussions, but advocating for open, respectful dialogue that acknowledges the reality of sexual wellness.

We are part of a society that communicates through technology more than ever before, and emojis are integral to this communication. They express thoughts and feelings beyond words, crossing language barriers with easy-to-understand symbolism. Currently, Unicode has more than 3,000 emojis — depicting everything from food to various expressions — yet, none signify or support conversations about sex toys and self-pleasure.

Data from the Kinsey Institute suggests that adult sex toy use is becoming broad, a logical extension of human sexual behavior with 53% of women and 45% of men reporting vibrator use in a national U.S. survey (Herbenick et al., 2010). This denotes that an increasing number of individuals are acknowledging their sexual wellness and satisfaction, hence the necessity for the incorporation of corresponding symbols in our regular exchanges.

By incorporating a sex toy emoji in Unicode, we can encourage further dialogue, remove stigmas, and normalize conversations about self-pleasure and sexual wellbeing. Please consider signing this petition to urge Unicode to take this vital step towards inclusive, respectful, and open dialogue about our sexual health.