Which term describes a multigenerational family in which each generation has one or very few members?

Which term describes a multigenerational family in which each generation has one or very few members?

• A. Classic extended family
• B. Extended family
• C. Beanpole family
• D. Nuclear family

Answer: (C)

In sociology, a beanpole family describes a multigenerational kinship where each generation has only one or very few members. This creates a tall, thin family tree because you might have a grandparent, a parent, and one child in each generation, often a result of low birth rates and longer life expectancy. The term highlights how demographic changes shape family size across generations.

This differs from a classic extended or extended family, which would involve larger numbers of relatives across generations. A nuclear family, on the other hand, consists of just two generations—parents and their children—without a broader multigenerational pattern.