Abstract:
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.