Google's gender equality emoji are formally adopted

Concerned as ever with diversity and equality, Google recently proposed a new set of emoji including a wider range of images of women in different professions. Today the company makes good on its promise and delivers the goods... with a little help from the powers-that-be.

Launched because "there aren't a lot [of emoji] that highlight the diversity of women's careers", the new emoji portray women in roles that have previously been the domain of man -- at least in pixel form. In all, the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee is adopting more than 100 new emoji after Google's suggestions.

This is not, however, quite as many as it seems. There are 11 'base' emoji representing various professions, but the number is boosted to over a hundred by including gender and skin color options. Existing emoji have also been updated so there is now a female option -- in the case of a police officer or cyclist, for example.

Announcing the new emoji, Google says:

These new emoji are one of several efforts we're making to better represent women in technology, and to connect girls with the education and resources they need to pursue careers in STEM. One such effort is Made with Code, which helps girls pursue and express their passions using computer science. Ahead of World Emoji Day this weekend, Made with Code is releasing a new project that teaches coding skills through the creation of emoji-inspired stickers.

It's not clear exactly when the new emoji will reach the public, but Google says that "these additions can be included in future versions of Android and other platforms". Find out more in the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee's release.