Despite the democratic and egalitarian ideals held by many in society, the unequal treatment of certain groups is a fact of social life. Stratification and Inequality explores the many ways in which inequality is structured within our society, along with the social mechanisms that support systems of inequality. Included in this discussion is stratification on the basis of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, age, species, and nationality. This new, full-color resource focuses on the consequences of stratification for individuals' lives and society as a whole.