The encounter with "the other" creates a dilemma of how and in what way the self will respond to this "other." In this chapter, the concept of "the other" is used to signify those who differ from an individual or group ("the self" or "the we") in some way that the self/we perceives to be significant. This difference may refer to features like culture, religion, nationality, political ideology, or language. "The other" is interpreted both as a singular and as plural noun. Thus, "the other" can be either a she/he or a "they/them."