A pilgrimage is a journey made to a holy place or special site for religious or spiritual reasons.
From Old French 'pelgrinage', from 'pelerin' meaning 'pilgrim', from Latin 'peregrinus' meaning 'foreigner, traveler'. It originally meant the state or journey of being a pilgrim.
Pilgrimages are as much about inner travel as outer distance: people often come back changed, even if the road was short. Modern fans lining up to visit a favorite author’s house or a movie location are doing a kind of secular pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage practices have been shaped by gender norms, with some routes historically restricted by gender and women’s journeys often less documented or controlled by male authorities. Language about pilgrims sometimes assumed a male default.
Use "pilgrim" and "pilgrimage" for people of any gender, and be explicit about inclusion when describing contemporary practices. Avoid assuming only men undertake serious religious journeys.
["spiritual journey","religious journey"]
Women have long undertaken pilgrimages, often in the face of social and legal constraints; acknowledging their participation corrects male-centered narratives of religious travel.
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