Meet the women making waves in male-dominated professions

These four women from different walks of life have another thing in common apart from their gender. They’ve all forayed into professions dominated by men and shattered stereotypes along the way.

They’re conjuring up careers, tracking down the bad guys, driving towards a brighter tomorrow and letting their dreams take flight. This Women’s Day, four ladies show us how it’s done.

Clockwise: Poonam (Cab driver), Sneha Sharma (Race driver and airline pilot), Maneka Sorcar (Magician), Bhavna Paliwal (Detective)

“It’s all about the male ego – it doesn’t allow them to lose to a woman. But once the helmet is on, I am only a racer, not a woman.”(Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times)

“We can’t do continuous surveillance. In our country, a woman standing at a site for a few hours will have to field queries.” (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

“My independence has come at a cost. But today I can hold my head high and my son is proud of me” (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

“In the West, women are no better than props, meant to divert the audience’s attention from the magician.” (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times)