Society consists of people sharply divided from one another, living different lives and identifying themselves in distinct ways. The social inequalities that underlie these divisions take many forms. This updated and expanded second edition of a successful text explores each of the social divisions. The book includes three major new chapters, on religion, poverty and elites, bringing it up to date with current research and teaching practices. Written by leading academics in each field, with additional pedagogical features, this is a crucial book for all students studying social divisions.