Beanpole families
Beanpole families are vertically extended (spanning multiple generations) but horizontally narrow (few siblings/cousins). They result from declining birth rates and increased longevity, creating tall family trees.
Real World
A typical middle-class family in 2024 might have one child, two parents, and four living grandparents — four generations alive simultaneously but only one sibling and perhaps one cousin, the textbook beanpole structure shaped by low birth rates and longer lifespans.
Exam Focus
Contrast beanpole with traditional extended families to score AO2 application marks; name the demographic causes (low birth rate, longevity) explicitly.
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