Pluralism, in a sociological context, refers to a condition or ideology in which mutual respect and tolerance exist between the various cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, or other groups within a society, allowing minorities to maintain and express their own distinct cultures, traditions, and identities without experiencing prejudice, discrimination, or pressure to assimilate into the dominant culture. In a pluralistic society, diversity is valued and seen as enriching the social fabric, with different groups coexisting peacefully and participating equally in economic and political life while retaining their unique cultural heritage. This is often contrasted with assimilation, where minority groups are expected to adopt the dominant culture, and segregation, where groups are physically or socially separated.