John Knodel

Biography:
John Knodel currently teaches Sociology 530 (Introduction to Social Demography). He has been conducting social demographic research on a wide range of topics in Southeast Asia, primarily Thailand, for almost three decades. More recently his research has also involves in Vietnam. He is currently conducting two major research projects. The first aims to determine the consequences of the HIV Epidemic in Thailand for older people, particularly older parents of young adults who die of AIDS. The research also includes estimation of the numbers of older people affected by HIV/AIDS through the infection of adult children; assessment of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of older people in relation to HIV/AIDS; assessment of the risk behaviors of older people; and studies of the interactions between health workers and older people caring for people with HIV-related illnesses.

The second project involves a cross-national examination of how gender relates to aging based on data from eight countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam). The study examines gender differences in a) the economic, health, and psycho-social well-being of older Asians; b) the extent to which older persons receive material and non-material support from family members (spouses and adult children/children-in-law); and c) the relative contribution of female and male family members in the provision of the different types of support to older members. In addition to comparative analysis to determine how gender patterns vary across cultural settings, country-specific analyses focus on Thailand and Vietnam where regional variations in gender roles are pronounced.

The center is committed to promoting a broader and deeper understanding of Southeast Asia and its peoples, cultures, and historiesby providing resources for faculty, students and the community to learn and disseminate knowledge about the region.