How does democracy accommodate social divisions?

Following are the ways in which democracies may accommodate social divisions amongst its citizens:

• A democracy has to take into consideration not only the opinion and aspirations of the majority but also of minority. In democratic societies, the minority participates in decision making process.
• In a democracy, no person can be discriminated on the basis of caste, religion or gender. It has to be ensured that rule by a majority does not become a rule by majority on the basis of religion or race or linguistic identity
• Political conflicts incorporating social divisions can be solved amicably through a democratic process involving the conflicting parties. One good example of such a  accommodation of a political conflict is the case of Ireland where the Nationalists and the Unionists resolved their differences by mutual agreement and consent.