♀️
Female Sign
FEE-mayl SAIN
Definitions
1
Symbol · Gender
Common
Symbol representing the female sex or gender, derived from the astrological symbol for Venus, featuring a circle with a cross beneath it.
Used to indicate female gender identity, women's spaces, or feminist contexts in digital communication.
The ♀️ restroom is on the second floor.
Directional information
Celebrating ♀️ power on International Women's Day!
Social media post
Widely recognized symbol for femininity across scientific, social, and political contexts.
2
Science · Biology
Common
Scientific notation indicating female organisms in biology, medicine, and related fields.
Used in scientific or educational contexts to denote female specimens, patients, or biological processes.
The study compared hormone levels in ♀️ vs ♂️ participants.
Scientific communication
Maintains consistent meaning across cultures due to standardized scientific usage.
3
Social · Activism
Common
Symbol used in feminist and women's rights contexts to represent female solidarity, empowerment, and gender equality movements.
Often used in social activism, political contexts, or to express support for women's causes.
♀️ rights are human rights! Join our march this Saturday.
Activist social media
Has evolved from purely biological designation to a symbol of gender identity and feminist empowerment.
Evolution Timeline
1970
Symbol adopted by women's liberation movement, transitioning from purely scientific notation to feminist icon.
Second-wave feminism seeking recognizable symbolism
2010
Inclusion in Unicode standard as digital symbol, enabling widespread use in electronic communication.
Digitization of gender symbols for online communication
2017
Surge in usage following Women's March and #MeToo movement as symbol of solidarity.
Global feminist movements seeking digital representation
Cultural Context
Originally an astronomical symbol for Venus, later adopted as biological notation for female, before becoming a feminist icon in the 20th century.
Represents both biological sex and gender identity, creating tension in some contexts where these concepts are distinguished.
One of the earliest gender symbols to appear in digital communication, enabling representation of gender concepts in text.
Functions as ideogram that transcends language barriers, conveying gender concepts across different cultures and writing systems.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Used in similar contexts to US but with less corporate feminism connotations.
United States
Commonly used in feminist contexts and gender discussions, particularly in progressive digital spaces.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used primarily in professional and political contexts, particularly in discussions of gender equality and representation.
Gen_Z: Used in digital activism, gender identity discussions, and feminist memes; often combined with other symbols for intersectional representation.
Older: Less frequently used; primarily understood as biological designation rather than symbol of gender identity or feminist politics.
Millennials: Employed in workplace diversity discussions, social media activism, and feminist hashtag campaigns.
Common Combinations
♀️💪
Female strength, empowerment, or feminist resilience
Used to express women's empowerment, particularly in athletic or professional achievement contexts
♀️✊
Female solidarity or feminist activism
Used in social justice contexts to express commitment to women's rights causes
♀️❤️
Love for women or celebration of femininity
Used to express appreciation for women or female-identifying people
♀️⚕️
Female healthcare professional
Used to specifically indicate women in medical professions