๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ
Family: Woman, Woman, Boy, Boy
FAM-uh-lee: WOO-man, WOO-man, BOY, BOY
Definitions
1
Family ยท Relationships
Common
A family unit consisting of two women as parents and two boys as children, representing a same-sex female-headed household with male children.
Used to represent lesbian couples with sons, though sometimes used more broadly to depict any family with two female caregivers and two boys.
So happy to celebrate 10 years together with our beautiful boys! ๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ #FamilyLove
Instagram caption
Our ๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ is heading to the beach this weekend! Can't wait for some sun and sand.
Family group chat
Thank you for making our ๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ feel so welcome at the school's family day!
Text message to teacher
Part of the inclusive family emoji set introduced to represent diverse family structures, particularly important for LGBTQ+ representation.
2
Identity ยท Representation
Common
A symbol of LGBTQ+ family visibility and inclusion, used in contexts advocating for family diversity and equal rights.
Often used in advocacy contexts, Pride celebrations, and discussions about family equality and representation.
Families come in all shapes and sizes ๐จโ๐จโ๐ง ๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ and they all deserve respect and recognition. #FamilyEquality
Twitter post during Pride Month
Our support group welcomes all families ๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ ๐จโ๐จโ๐งโ๐ง ๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ง in the community!
Community center flyer
Represents progress in digital representation of diverse families, particularly important in LGBTQ+ communities.
Evolution Timeline
2016
Introduction of diverse family emoji combinations including same-sex parents with children.
Growing recognition of family diversity and LGBTQ+ representation needs.
2017
Usage spike following Australia's same-sex marriage legalization and similar global equality milestones.
Legal recognition driving digital representation and visibility.
2019
Became common in corporate and brand communications during Pride Month and diversity campaigns.
Mainstreaming of LGBTQ+ family representation in marketing and corporate communications.
2021
Increased usage in educational materials and children's content promoting family diversity.
Growing emphasis on inclusive education and representation in children's media.
Cultural Context
Represents the evolution of family emoji beyond the traditional nuclear family model, reflecting changing social norms and family structures.
Part of Unicode's effort to make emoji more inclusive, using ZWJ (zero-width joiner) sequences to create more diverse family representations.
Introduced during a period of significant legal and social progress for LGBTQ+ families globally, coinciding with marriage equality milestones in multiple countries.
Usage patterns often reflect regional legal status and social acceptance of same-sex parenting, with higher usage in regions with stronger legal protections.
Represents a shift in digital communication to visually represent family diversity that previously required explicit verbal description.
Regional Variations
Australia
Increased usage following the 2017 legalization of same-sex marriage.
United Kingdom
Commonly used in family contexts with less political connotation than in the US.
United States
Widely used across social media platforms, particularly during Pride Month celebrations and in advocacy contexts.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Adopted by Gen X parents in family contexts, though usage rate is somewhat lower than among millennials.
Gen_Z: Used matter-of-factly as a normalized family representation. Often appears in casual contexts on TikTok and Instagram Stories.
Older: Limited but growing usage, primarily by those with LGBTQ+ family members or allies actively supporting family diversity.
Millennials: Frequently used by millennial parents in family announcements, school-related communications, and advocacy contexts.
Common Combinations
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆโค๏ธ
Love and pride in a two-mom, two-son family unit.
Commonly used to express family love and pride, especially during family milestones or celebrations.
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ๐
Home life of a two-mom, two-son family or moving/housing announcements.
Used when discussing family home life, moving announcements, or housing situations.
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ๐
LGBTQ+ family pride and celebration.
Particularly popular during Pride Month and LGBTQ+ awareness events.
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆโ๏ธ
Family travel or vacation with two moms and two sons.
Used when sharing family vacation plans or travel experiences.
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ๐
Academic achievement or graduation within a two-mom, two-son family.
Used to celebrate educational milestones of either the children or parents.
Related Emojis
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ง
Same-sex female parents with two daughters instead of sons
๐จโ๐จโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ
Same-sex male parents with two sons
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ง
Same-sex female parents with one daughter
๐ฉโ๐ฉโ๐ฆ
Same-sex female parents with one son
๐
Often used together to represent LGBTQ+ families