Final answer:
Industrialization generally leads to a decrease in the social standing of the oldest members of society, with increased social exclusion and diminished role in a society more focused on occupation and class rather than age-related status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effect of industrialization on the social standing of the oldest members of society is generally that social standings go down. The parallel forces of industrialization and modernization have led to a decrease in the status of elders, who are more likely to experience social exclusion. The shift from the extended family unit to the nuclear family, combined with an increase in individualistic societal norms, results in the care for the elderly being seen more as a voluntary obligation rather than a mandatorily enforced social duty. Moreover, with the radical societal change, including the shrinking of average family sizes and the birth of social classes, the power, influence, and prestige that the elderly once held have significantly declined.
Industrial societies tend to prioritize occupation over age, with identity and class increasingly based on work rather than familial or age-related status. This shift has led to further diminishment of elder status within the community. While the sheer numbers of elderly people can influence policies and politics through their voting power, it does not necessarily restore their social standing within the everyday social structures of industrialized societies.