Teferra, Birhanu (PhD)Itana, Rahel2018-06-212023-12-052018-06-212023-12-052007-08http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2622Female characters depicted in male-authored texts are usually given stereotyped roles. They often appear marginalized as a result of the male female hierarchy created in the novels. In most cases they are portrayed as passive and submissive, deprived of their right to involve in public and private spheres. There is also a tendency of denying them acknowledgment despite their involvement in public and private matters. African feminist criticism is concerned with showing how women suffer from socio-economic and political oppressions. It exposes the stereotyped roles assigned to be performed by women and appreciates the acknowledgement of women’s contributions to the society. African feminist criticism looks at the facts about racism, sexism and classism as interrelated, for they have an impact on African women's experiences. Making use of this theory, an attempt has been made in this study to analyze the portrayal of women in relation to their socio-economic and political roles and contributions in two male-authored texts. The points considered in the analysis are, whether major female characters appear as victims, suffering from stereotypical roles assigned to them or as women whose contributions to the society are given due recognition. A close feminist analysis, on the one hand, shows the presence of stereotypical portrayal of female characters wherein they appear as victims of societal oppression. On the other hand how female characters are depicted as major contributors in the struggle to change the life conditions of their respective societies also demonstrated through such an analysis. TABLE OFenWomen in the Novels of Ousmane SembeneThesis