πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈ

Man Getting Massage

man GET-ing muh-SAHJ
People & Body Unicode 4.0 common

Meanings

1
People Β· Wellness Common

Depicts a man receiving a massage, typically a head or face massage. Used to represent relaxation, self-care, stress relief, or spa treatments.

Often used when discussing wellness activities, self-care routines, or to indicate taking time to relax.

After that stressful week, I'm treating myself to a spa day πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈ πŸ“‹ Personal messaging
Finally booked that massage I've been talking about for months πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈ #selfcare πŸ“‹ Social media

Reflects growing social acceptance of male wellness and self-care practices in Western cultures.

2
Activities Β· Relaxation Common

Used metaphorically to indicate taking a break, relaxing, or relieving stress in any context, not necessarily involving an actual massage.

Often appears in conversations about work-life balance, mental health breaks, or unwinding.

Taking the day off work tomorrow to recharge πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈ πŸ“‹ Messaging apps

Part of digital wellness language that emerged with increased focus on mental health in online discourse.

Combos with πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈ

πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈπŸ˜Œ
Ultimate relaxation or relief from stress
Represents the satisfied feeling after receiving a massage or taking time for self-care.
πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈπŸ’―
Perfect relaxation or top-tier self-care experience
Often used when highlighting exceptional wellness experiences worth recommending.
πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈπŸ§˜β€β™‚οΈ
Complete wellness routine involving both massage and meditation
Represents holistic approach to wellness popular in Western adaptations of Eastern practices.
πŸ’†β€β™‚οΈπŸ”‹
Recharging energy through relaxation or self-care
Metaphor for treating the body like technology that needs recharging.

Culture

Represents evolving masculine norms that increasingly embrace self-care and wellness activities once marketed primarily to women.

Part of Unicode 9.0's effort to create gender equality in emoji professions, moving away from gender stereotypes in digital communication.

Millennials and Gen Z use this emoji more frequently, reflecting changing attitudes toward male grooming and wellness across generations.

Often used metaphorically to indicate any form of relaxation or stress relief, not just literal massage treatments.

United Kingdom Used more pragmatically, often in contexts of health therapy rather than luxury indulgence.
United States Commonly used in wellness and self-care contexts, particularly in urban areas where spa culture is prevalent.
Gen_X: Less commonly used, but appears in contexts of health treatments or vacation activities rather than routine self-care.
Gen_Z: Used casually for any form of relaxation or break, often in ironic contexts about needing stress relief from minor inconveniences.
Older: Rarely used; when present, typically refers to literal massage therapy for health purposes rather than luxury or relaxation.
Millennials: Frequently used when discussing actual spa treatments or wellness activities as part of self-care routines and work-life balance.

History

2016

Introduction of gendered profession emojis including man getting massage.

Push for gender equality in emoji representation.

2018

Increased usage coinciding with rise of 'self-care' as cultural concept in social media.

Wellness and mental health awareness movements gaining momentum online.

2020

Spike in usage during pandemic lockdowns as symbol of missed experiences.

COVID-19 restrictions limiting access to wellness services.