Which generation label best fits Michelle, who has a Russian grandmother sharing life stories from the 1930s and 1940s?

Which generation label best fits Michelle, who has a Russian grandmother sharing life stories from the 1930s and 1940s?

• A. First generation
• B. 1.5 generation
• C. Third generation
• D. Fourth generation

Answer: (C)

In immigrant-family terms, generations are counted by how far someone is from the original immigrant ancestor. The person who migrated is the first generation. Their children born in the new country are the second generation. The grandchildren of the original immigrant are the third generation. Since Michelle has a Russian grandmother who is the immigrant and is sharing stories from the 1930s and 1940s, Michelle is the grandmother’s grandchild, i.e., the third generation. The 1.5 generation describes people who immigrated as children or grew up between two countries, which doesn’t fit this setup. The fourth generation would be great-grandchildren, which would be one generation further removed.

In immigrant-family terms, generations are counted by how far someone is from the original immigrant ancestor. The person who migrated is the first generation. Their children born in the new country are the second generation. The grandchildren of the original immigrant are the third generation. Since Michelle has a Russian grandmother who is the immigrant and is sharing stories from the 1930s and 1940s, Michelle is the grandmother’s grandchild, i.e., the third generation. The 1.5 generation describes people who immigrated as children or grew up between two countries, which doesn’t fit this setup. The fourth generation would be great-grandchildren, which would be one generation further removed.