• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cade Hildreth

Everything You SHOULD'VE Been Taught in School.

MENUMENU
  • Blog
  • Finance
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Real Estate
    • Gold and Silver
    • Investing
    • Increasing Income
    • Financial Q&A
  • Real Estate
  • Health
    • Fitness
    • Nutrition
    • Confidence
  • LGBTQ+
  • Podcast
    • "What You Should've Been Taught"
    • Audio Feed of the Website
    • Ask a Podcast Question
  • About
    • Testimonials
    • About Cade
    • Rugby Bio
    • Instagram
    • Contact
You are here: Home / LGBTQ+ / Latest Apple iOS Update Includes Gender Neutral Emojis for Nearly All Human Emojis
Latest Apple iOS Update Includes Gender Neutral Emojis for Nearly All Human Emojis

Latest Apple iOS Update Includes Gender Neutral Emojis for Nearly All Human Emojis

November 5, 2019 By Cade Hildreth Leave a Comment

The latest Apple iOS software update added a host of new emojis, including gender-neutral emojis for human and fantasy characters. In addition to acknowledging that society is evolving, the new additions let Apple device owners express themselves in ways they couldn’t before.

Importantly, the gender-neutral emoji additions allow individuals who consider themselves nonbinary to represent themselves during conversation. For people who identify as genderfluid, intersexed, or transgendered, the emojis are also a breathe of fresh air.

Finally, the new emojis acknowledge that not all female or male-identifying people present in a predictable, traditional, or uniform way.

Emoji History

In 2008, Apple created its first set of emojis for iPhone Users. The first set consisted of only 90 emoji and all characters had a single skin tone – unsurprisingly, one that most closely resembled Caucasian people.

Gradually, changes began to occur in the world of social media and texting. In trying to keep up with the demand of iPhone users to have emojis that most closely represents themselves, Apple now has over 500 emojis in an attempt to be inclusive.

The latest emoji additions that were released as part of Apple’s October 2019 iOS update were new animals (such as a sloth, orangutan, otter and flamingo), more diverse foods (such as falafel, which has its origins from the Middle East), disability emojis, and a broader range of professions, among other additions.

Apple iOS Emoji Diversity

However, among all the latest emojis released by Apple, the gender-neutral emoji was the most widely debated one on Twitter, creating a buzz of both controversy and humor in Twitter’s “Trending” Section.

For a laugh, see the tweet below:

The new gender neutral emoji is just nsync era Justin Timberlake. pic.twitter.com/qaHO37QDQV

— James Donald Forbes McCann (@jdfmccann) October 28, 2019

Why Gender Neutral Emojis?

To better understand what gender-neutral emojis mean to iPhone users and Apple itself, we have to understand what emojis mean in our conversation. The word “E-mo-ji” is a group of Japanese words which means picture, writing, and character respectively.

Emojis were developed as an alternative way to convey messages and even feelings. Personally, I would describe emojis as a digital image that can convey several emotions during a conversation. They are a fun way of communicating and are extremely easy to use.

Emojis are important in our era because they simplify communication, keep it fun and succinct, and allow us to express ourselves visually.  A single emoji in a conversation can be worth a thousand words.

🩸 Drop of Blood Emoji

In addition to the gender-neutral emojis, another notable addition to the archive during the recent October 2019 iOS update was the drop of blood emoji.

Dubbed the #periodemoji, several groups advocated for this emoji saying that women deserve to have an emoji to use to denote their menstrual cycle. It has been widely praised by who believe that the emoji breaks down the “period stigma” females face.

Of course, other people have pointed out that it can also be used to signify a blood donation, bleeding, or injury, in addition to menstruation.

Disability Emojis

People with disabilities can now keep their conversation flowing too with any of the disability themed emoji that best represents them.

Examples of such emoji are the wheelchair, prosthetic leg, prosthetic arm, prosthetic leg, hearing aid, a guide dog, and a person with a cane, among other options.

Disability Emojis

Describing their plan to release disability emojis, Apple wrote: “Currently, emoji provide a wide range of options, but may not represent the experiences of those with disabilities. Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience for all.”

Hand-Holding Emoji

In another step forward, iPhone users can now personalize the holding hand emoji, combining different skin tone options and genders for it.

This can be done by holding down the hand holding emoji option and making the gender or skin tone selection for the person in the right and left.

This is significant, because this emoji now acknowledges both same-sex and interracial relationships.

How Will Gender Neutral Emojis Affect Apple?

With Apple taking a step to become more inclusive by adding a gender-neutral emojis to their library of emojis, let’s explore three ways it will affect the Apple brand and products:

1) Apple Becomes an Advocate of the LGBTQ+ Community

The addition of gender-neutral emojis by Apple to its emoji library makes the brand an advocate of the LGBTQ+ community.

The new emoji additions allow people from the community to identify or represent themselves easily using emojis.

It is a big step forward to have a major brand like Apple acknowledge non-mainstream identities.

2) Strategic and Competitive Advantage

The addition of the gender-neutral emoji is a smart marketing strategy by Apple to win the hearts of the LGBTQ+ community and position their competitors, such as Samsung, Google Pixel, Redmi, OnePlus, and others, on the defensive.

Because Apple is  the first platform to introduce gender-neutral emojis, other smart phones are now being criticized as “behind the curve” and “noninclusive.”

3) Apple becomes a Brand that is More Consistent with Change

The world is changing, along with the beliefs of people. We now have a wide range of individuals who are gender fluid, gender nonconforming, or who simply reject the notion that men and women need present in predictable and uniform ways.

The introduction of a gender-neutral options for nearly all human and fantasy characters shows that Apple is embracing change and is committed to being socially progressive.

Among Apple’s newest gender-neutral emojis, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below.

Up Next: Singular ‘They’: Merriam-Webster Adds ‘They’ as a Nonbinary Pronoun

5/5 - (1 vote)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: LGBTQ+ Tagged With: diversity

Reader Interactions

Tell Us What You Think!Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

“As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, real estate investor, former USA Rugby Player, and fitness fanatic, I’ll teach you what your parents and teachers should’ve taught you, but didn’t know themselves.” -Cade Hildreth

Want to know what I learned making my first few million? Subscribe here.

Or, listen to Cade’s articles on the go as a Podcast.

I used to believe, I can’t be myself because it I used to believe, I can’t be myself because it will hurt people. 

Now I know the truth, which is, I can’t not be myself because it will hurt people. 

Leave a 💯 if this speaks to your experience... 

Also, do you think the art in photo 2 looks like Erin? ➡️🤔🌈
A person’s very existence cannot be against your A person’s very existence cannot be against your beliefs. 

We know from history what happens when we don’t believe another person has a right to life and to difference. 

Repost from @pinknews 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
I am and always have been drawn to queer people. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 

Why is that?

It’s because LGBTQIA+ folks have passed a brave litmus test — and damn, do I respect that. 

If you are LGBTQIA, when did you first come out and to whom? 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💙
“Being kind to yourself is one of the greatest k “Being kind to yourself is one of the greatest kindnesses.” 

—The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse 

Leave a 💙 below if you agree… 

Also, have you read this book? 📚
The act of becoming is a sacred process. Leave a The act of becoming is a sacred process. 

Leave a 💯 below if you agree…
Erin’s going back to school!! Don’t worry, I Erin’s going back to school!! 

Don’t worry, I don’t think she’ll be giving up her other hobbies any time soon.. lol. 🐝🐔🐶

Are you in school too? If so what are you studying and do you have any good survival tips? 🤓
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

Gender Spectrum

Gender Spectrum: A Scientist Explains Why Gender Isn’t Binary

Do Gametes Create a Sex Binary

Do Gametes (Egg/Sperm) Create a Sex Binary? Science Says No.

IRR vs ARR

IRR vs. ARR: What’s the Difference?

Is Daniel Levy married

Is Daniel Levy Married? 7 Astonishing Facts You Didn’t Know About Him

Does the Y Chromosome Create a Sex Binary? Science Says No

Categories

  • Biohacking
  • Confidence
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Exclude
  • Finance
  • Fitness
  • Gold and Silver
  • Increasing Income
  • Investing
  • LGBTQ+
  • Nutrition
  • Podcast
  • Real Estate

Ask a Podcast Question | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2019 · CADEHILDRETH.COM | PHONE: ‪(202) 660-4705‬  | 800 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 301, STAFFORD, VA 22554, USA

 

*Disclaimer: Nothing on this site should be construed as medical, health, or financial advice. Before making any health decisions, you should consult with your doctor. Before making any financial decisions, you should consult with professional adviser, such as a financial planner or CPA.