follower or student of a teacher
Latin 'discipulus' meaning 'student, learner'
A disciple has discipline to follow their teacher's wisdom!
Religious and philosophical traditions historically recorded male disciples as the authoritative carriers of knowledge; female followers (Mary Magdalene, Hypatia's students) were systematized out or minimized.
Use 'disciple' gender-neutrally for both, or specify 'women disciples' when correcting historical erasure.
["student","follower","devotee"]
Many women were foundational to religious and philosophical movements but excluded from 'disciple' canon; reclaiming 'women disciples' recovers intellectual history.
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