ABSTRACT This research comparatively examines the influence of patriarchy on the economic, educational and the social class representation of women in selected Young Adult (YA) Ethiopian novels. Put differently, in light of feminist point of view, it investigates the differences and common features of female characters revealed in Rahel Ambaye’s The Price for the Pass and Eyob Getahun’s Behind the Invisible Bars. Hence, the study employs qualitative research method and textual analysis. This research attempts to give answers for the research question: How female characters are portrayed in these young adult Ethiopian novels. The novels are purposely selected as they are members of the newly emerged young adult literary genre, their recentness in publication and authorial diversity. Based on the theoretical framework of Marxist feminism and patriarchal rules, the result of the analysis shows the existence of women’s attitudinal change towards socially constructed traditional gender roles. Besides, the leading characters of both novels are portrayed as strong and rational teenagers who stand against the practices of patriarchal gender roles. Women become active participants in the educational, economic and other societal activities. But few minor characters are depicted as victims of the patriarchal norms or reinforce the assumptions of patriarchal ideology. As a result, both novels contain ideologically conflicted characters. In both novels, there are women portrayed as domestic laborers; In Marxist feminist point of view, they represent economically unprivileged social groups. There is no that much difference in the portrayal of female characters in Rahel Ambaye’s The Price for the Pass and Eyob Getahun’s Behind the Invisible Bars (male and female–authored novels). In both novels, female characters are oppressed by both women and men. Women are the major oppressors of women. The analysis shows the oppression of women by women and the oppression of women by men. Men do not have any major role that differentiates them with women rather relatively women have it. Most female characters in these sample young adult Ethiopian novels undermine the deep-rooted and socially constructed illogical patriarchal norms; they become nearly equal participants in the socio-economic activities of the Ethiopian society as reflected in the selected sample young adult (YA) novels.