Community and Partnership Lead

You can now upload your own Display Picture on Grapevine 👤

Excited cuz this feature is finally here. I cannot wait to see how folks choose to represent themselves through pictures. Directions: Update your app to latest version. Go to your profile from the top left. Then edit profile. Upload DP Feel free to have fun/ get creative. I'm hopeful this will make people more distinct and stand out (as we all do, in real life). Do note: any trolling/abuse via DPs will result in moderation which no body likes. Have fun folks :)

"IITs have poor gender ratio because of skill issue"

img: this is what women have to go through every step of the way trying to succeed in tech. 1. Today a **male coworker** said that IITs have a poor gender ratio because of skill issues. His casual comment struck a nerve and made me think about my own journey. 2. Growing up, I was always fascinated by science and technology. My father was a Mechanical Engineer at Tata Steel and he would often bring home gadgets and explain their workings to me. I was captivated and my dream of studying at an IIT started in class 9th. 3. However, as I progressed through school in class 11th, I began to notice something troubling: there were very few girls in my class(PCM). This difference only grew as I entered coaching classes to prepare for the IIT entrance exam. 4. It was intensely competitive, and while I loved learning, I couldn't ignore the subtle messages suggesting that girls weren't as capable in these fields. Despite consistently being in the top batch at FIITJEE, there was always a sense of discomfort in these classes. 5. Don't get me wrong, my parents were incredibly supportive, but society was just the worst to women. Relatives would often say that I should consider "Humanities or Commerce", ones that would better suit my "future responsibilities" as a wife and mother. 6. These comments were disheartening. I was determined to prove that my passion and capabilities were not defined by my gender. 7. The journey to IIT was one of the hardest journeys I had undertaken. There were countless sleepless nights, endless DPS, and moments of self-doubt. But I persevered, and the day I got my AIR, was a special moment for me. 8. Going to an IIT for the first time was surreal, but it was also a stark reminder of the gender imbalance in STEM. 9. Being one of the few women in my program came with its own set of challenges. There were times when I felt isolated, questioned if I truly belonged, or if others saw me as an equal. to prove myself. However, these experiences also made me resilient. I sought out other female students, and together we formed a support network. 10. Despite the challenges, my time at IIT was eye opening. I graduated with a high CGPA and got a high paying job. 11. Hearing my coworker’s remark today reminded me of the importance of addressing and challenging these stereotypes. It's not a "skill issue" that causes the poor gender ratio at IITs. 12. It's a society problem and that's why women move abroad. Girls are just as competent(if not more) but they also need support, encouragement, and equal opportunities to succeed from the society. **My journey wasn't easy, but it was worth it.**

Photographers earning on a rise

1M, 2M, 1Y and Nth month photo shoot. Holds true for pre marriage, Bollywood pose and so many photo shoots... Sora AI , eat them all soon :D PS - meme it is