Revised, restructured and updated to reflect the latest data and debates, this new edition of the widely used, classic textbook offers students an accessible account of the major social divisions that structure social life. Written by internationally known sociologists and experts, the book: * addresses a wide range of social divisions and inequalities in novel ways, with added chapters on education and age; * provides a framework for understanding contemporary social inequalities and diversities, and how they interrelate; * lends itself to teaching in a range of contexts with the potential to dip into particular chapters for different modules, or to use the book in a more extensive way for one particular module; * features signposting through the material, as well as key points, discussion questions and selected further readings for each chapter. This clearly written volume presents a structured and critical guide to a core field that cuts across disciplines. It is an invaluable introduction and source book for students taking social inequalities and diversity modules in sociology, social policy, social work, education and health studies.