[Sethia Soliman]

Apple causes a stir over plans to add a ‘pregnant man’ emoji​

The internet can be a good place to exchange ideas and express oneself. Nothing has changed the game for conversations more than the launch of emojis, which has then resulted in becoming a huge part of internet culture. We commonly use emojis to emphasize emotions that can be hard to get across sometimes— especially through plain, old, and boring texts displayed by a screen.

But the purpose of emojis throughout the years has become dynamic. It not only served as a means to improve expression but also as representation. Back in 2019, Apple rolled out several emojis with the intent to be inclusive and gender-neutral. Some of these emojis featured hearing aids, wheelchairs, and prosthetic limbs along with androgynous options for ‘human’ emojis.

Apple revealed plans to add 37 brand new emojis including the pregnant man and pregnant person in their latest update, iOS 15.4.

New pregnant man and person emoji to be released in Apple’s latest update. ​

The pregnant emoji isn’t unheard of by some since it became part of an update that emoji-encyclopedia, Emojipedia, shared with the public in September 2021.

However, the move to include everyone in pregnancy is definitely not making everybody happy.

The announcement has caused great controversy online with some cultural commentators asserting that the fight for making a ‘biologically specific phenomenon’, that being pregnancy, all-inclusive dehumanises women and negates factors that allow gender distinction.

Emojipedia also received backlash upon revealing the pregnant man and pregnant person emoji back in September.

“The emojis may be used for representation by trans men, non-binary people, or women with short hair — though, of course, the use of these emoji is not limited to these groups”. The company said in response.

“The emoji can also be used as a tongue-in-cheek way to display a food baby, a very full stomach caused by eating a large meal”, Emojipedia’s Jane Solomon wrote.

Solomon added her thoughts on trying to be more inclusive with the emojis saying: “The approach has varied depending on the situation, though the general goal is to standardise inconsistencies in legacy decisions.”

Pregnancy and birth are extensively considered as something only women do. However, this isn’t always the case for some. Healthline debunks this misconception saying: “People of all genders get pregnant and give birth to babies around the world.”

Credit: Healthline​

This means people who were born biologically female but identity as men are transgender men who can get pregnant because their reproductive organs give them the ability to do so.

“Most transgender people giving birth are those born with a uterus — transgender men, nonbinary people, gender fluid people, gender queer people, Two-Spirit people, and others with uteruses who don’t identify as women.” Healthline wrote.

Currently, there is no evident data available on how many men have gotten pregnant or given birth in the United States but Australia has recorded 22 men who gave birth in 2018, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Want to share your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to learn more about Transgender individuals? Watch the video below:

​

Credit: TEDx Talks​

 

[chezna]

This is just gross! Totally inappropriate!

 

[Joydie]

Constantly repeating a lie doesn’t make it the truth. As Ben Shapiro would say: ‘Facts don’t care about your feelings.’ I’ve been around the block too many times to indulge in fantasy.

 

[Quiltynut]

Apple causes a stir over plans to add a ‘pregnant man’ emoji​

The internet can be a good place to exchange ideas and express oneself. Nothing has changed the game for conversations more than the launch of emojis, which has then resulted in becoming a huge part of internet culture. We commonly use emojis to emphasize emotions that can be hard to get across sometimes— especially through plain, old, and boring texts displayed by a screen.

But the purpose of emojis throughout the years has become dynamic. It not only served as a means to improve expression but also as representation. Back in 2019, Apple rolled out several emojis with the intent to be inclusive and gender-neutral. Some of these emojis featured hearing aids, wheelchairs, and prosthetic limbs along with androgynous options for ‘human’ emojis.

Apple revealed plans to add 37 brand new emojis including the pregnant man and pregnant person in their latest update, iOS 15.4.

New pregnant man and person emoji to be released in Apple’s latest update. ​

The pregnant emoji isn’t unheard of by some since it became part of an update that emoji-encyclopedia, Emojipedia, shared with the public in September 2021.

However, the move to include everyone in pregnancy is definitely not making everybody happy.

The announcement has caused great controversy online with some cultural commentators asserting that the fight for making a ‘biologically specific phenomenon’, that being pregnancy, all-inclusive dehumanises women and negates factors that allow gender distinction.

Emojipedia also received backlash upon revealing the pregnant man and pregnant person emoji back in September.

“The emojis may be used for representation by trans men, non-binary people, or women with short hair — though, of course, the use of these emoji is not limited to these groups”. The company said in response.

“The emoji can also be used as a tongue-in-cheek way to display a food baby, a very full stomach caused by eating a large meal”, Emojipedia’s Jane Solomon wrote.

Solomon added her thoughts on trying to be more inclusive with the emojis saying: “The approach has varied depending on the situation, though the general goal is to standardise inconsistencies in legacy decisions.”

Pregnancy and birth are extensively considered as something only women do. However, this isn’t always the case for some. Healthline debunks this misconception saying: “People of all genders get pregnant and give birth to babies around the world.”

Credit: Healthline​

This means people who were born biologically female but identity as men are transgender men who can get pregnant because their reproductive organs give them the ability to do so.

“Most transgender people giving birth are those born with a uterus — transgender men, nonbinary people, gender fluid people, gender queer people, Two-Spirit people, and others with uteruses who don’t identify as women.” Healthline wrote.

Currently, there is no evident data available on how many men have gotten pregnant or given birth in the United States but Australia has recorded 22 men who gave birth in 2018, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Want to share your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to learn more about Transgender individuals? Watch the video below:

Credit: TEDx Talks​

 

[Quiltynut]

𝐎𝐡 for goodness sakes! Have people so little lifethey can bet riled up over a silly emojoi? Ignore it and don't use it if it offends you. I think it could be afun way to announce" I am going tobe a Dad"