I am in the 50% of the population who have periods. And frankly, we have emojis for poo and vomit, so why not another bodily function? The red blood drop that came out a couple of years ago just doesn’t say ‘period’ to me. It feels generic and fails to capture the specific experience of menstruation that millions of women around the world go through every month.

We need a more specific period emoji that truly represents this aspect of women's health and lives. Think about it: we have emojis for almost everything. Yet, the one that represents an experience shared by half of the world's population is still lacking. I envision an emoji of a pair of panties with some cute blood drops on them, or a tampon with blood on it. A blood drop could be used by a man who’s cut his finger. So I reject this blood drop emoji as representative of my monthly period. I want to feel seen as a woman who bleeds.

Creating a dedicated period emoji would be more than just adding another graphic to our phones. It would be a step towards normalizing menstruation, breaking taboos, and celebrating womanhood in all its forms. It would send a powerful message of inclusivity and recognition to women everywhere, making them feel acknowledged and understood.

For a long time, topics related to menstruation have been shrouded in shame and silence, but it's time for that to change. By giving this critical aspect of health its own emoji, Unicode would be promoting awareness and fostering open conversations about periods and women's health globally.

Join me in urging Unicode to create a more specific period emoji that truly represents what it means to menstruate. Let's push for emoji representation that encompasses every aspect of our lives. Please sign this petition to make our voices heard.