👳
Person Wearing Turban
PUR-suhn WEAR-ing TUR-buhn
Definitions
1
People · Cultural
Common
Represents a person wearing a turban, a traditional head covering worn in various cultures, most commonly associated with Sikh men and some Muslim communities.
Used to represent Sikh individuals, cultural diversity, or in discussions about South Asian or Middle Eastern cultures.
My friend Gurpreet 👳 is coming to the cultural festival tomorrow.
Personal messaging
The diversity workshop included people from all backgrounds 👨🦰👩🦱👳👨🦲
Work communication
Just met a really nice 👳 at the gurdwara who explained Sikh traditions to me.
Social media
The turban has deep religious significance in Sikhism and is also worn in various forms across South Asia and the Middle East.
2
People · Stereotypical
Uncommon
Sometimes used problematically to represent stereotypes of South Asian or Middle Eastern people, regardless of whether they wear turbans.
This usage can be considered insensitive or offensive as it reduces diverse cultural groups to a single stereotypical image.
Don't be that person who uses 👳 to represent any South Asian person. Not all South Asians wear turbans.
Educational social media post
The emoji can perpetuate stereotypes when used to generically represent people from certain regions without respect for cultural and religious distinctions.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Initial inclusion in Unicode 6.0 as a generic 'man with turban' emoji with yellow skin tone.
Growing recognition of the need for cultural diversity in emoji sets
2015
Skin tone modifiers introduced, allowing for more diverse representation of turban wearers.
Push for greater emoji diversity and representation across racial and ethnic lines
2017
Gender-inclusive version introduced with Unicode 10.0, changing from 'man with turban' to 'person with turban'.
Growing awareness of gender inclusivity in digital representation
2020
Increased usage during cultural education movements and social justice conversations about representation.
Global conversations about cultural sensitivity and appropriate representation
Cultural Context
In Sikhism, the turban (dastar) is an article of faith representing honor, self-respect, courage, and spirituality. Removing it in public is considered disrespectful.
The emoji has become part of digital conversations about cultural appropriation, stereotyping, and the importance of understanding religious symbols.
Turbans have diverse histories across cultures. Sikh turbans differ from those worn in parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions of South Asia.
Initially designed as a male emoji, the evolution to gender-inclusive options reflects broader shifts in digital representation of cultural diversity.
The style of turban depicted in the emoji most closely resembles a Sikh dastar, though turbans vary widely across cultures in style, wrapping technique, and significance.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Used with greater cultural awareness due to significant South Asian diaspora population.
India
Used with greater cultural specificity, often distinguishing between different types of turbans and their cultural significance.
United States
Often used in diversity contexts, but sometimes with limited understanding of its cultural significance.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Less frequent usage, primarily in formal contexts like educational materials or discussions about world religions.
Gen_Z: Often used in educational contexts about cultural diversity and in discussions challenging stereotypes on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Limited usage, generally only in specific contexts related to discussing Sikh culture or international relations.
Millennials: Used in workplace diversity contexts and educational content about cultural sensitivity and representation.
Common Combinations
👳🙏
Represents Sikh prayer, worship, or showing respect in a religious context.
Often used when discussing religious practices or visiting gurdwaras (Sikh temples).
👳🏽♂️🇮🇳
Specifically represents Indian Sikh men or Indian cultural identity with turbans.
Used in discussions about Indian culture, Sikh heritage, or Indian celebrations.
👨👩👧👦👳
Represents a family with Sikh traditions or a family member who wears a turban.
Used when discussing family traditions, cultural heritage, or religious identity.
👳✈️
References travel experiences of turban-wearing individuals, sometimes highlighting airport security issues.
Can reference discrimination faced by Sikhs during travel or immigration discussions.