Introduction and background: Social stratification is the structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal rewards and economic power in a society that includes slavery, caste, the inheritance system and the social system. course. Social stratification can be seen as necessary from a functionalist perspective because it motivates people to take whatever jobs are necessary for society to survive. Conflict theorists view stratification as a major source of societal tension and conflict, with different social levels with opposing interests potentially clashing over goals and resources. Interactionists emphasize the importance of social class in determining a person's lifestyle. The most extreme form of legalized social inequality for individuals and racial groups is slavery. What sets this oppressive system of stratification apart is that enslaved individuals are owned by other people, who treat these human beings as property, just as if they were pets or household appliances. This was the case in the United States and Latin America, where slavery was a common practice. assigned status, racial and legal barriers prevented the freeing of slaves. Slavery is one of the main reasons why there is still social stratification between racial groups in society today. Race and ethnic relations deals with inequality between majority and minority races, which is shaped by stratification and adds to class struggle. Social definitions of race and ethnicity still affect individuals' place and status within a system of stratification, not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Castes are hereditary ranks that are generally dictated by religion and tend to be fixed and immobile. The caste system is commonly associated with Hinduism in India and other countries... middle of article ......often our class is not where we should be when it comes to diversity , but we are taking the right measures. Our class may be able to handle racial issues, but we still lack social diversity. The course is socially interactive but it should also be considered that our survey is based on a small group, and also that 30% of this group did not participate. This survey is not specific when referring to society as a whole, but it does take a close look at who you are sitting next to. This investigation helps to better understand that the way you grew up is obviously not like others, but it also helps you understand why people react to certain people of different races the way they do when faced with certain situations. Works Cited Schaefer, Richard T. “Stratification and Social Mobility in the United States.” Sociology. 13th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2013. N. pag. Print.