Upcoming emoji update will add 168 new gender-neutral emoji

On Monday the Unicode Consortium revealed that Emoji 12.1 will feature 168 new emoji under “People and Body” when it rolls out later this year.

According to Unicode, the new emoji are gender-neutral versions of existing emoji, and will allow users to communicate “without specifying their gender”.

This includes a bald person, fire fighter, cook and student along with “people holding hands” and “person with probing cane”.

“Thirty new combinations of people holding hands with various skin tones were also added,” the consortium said.

Emoji have, over the years, become increasingly inclusive with skin tone, gender and even culture.

Earlier this month, new messaging app OjuChat also released with a number of “region-specific and culturally appropriate” emoji as well.

The update is set to roll out to mobile platforms in the coming months.

Feature image: Unicode Consortium