This study was planned to examine the women cultural roles in Awra Amba and AterrnMidiI' communities. In doing so, it investigated how they shape women feelings and affectrntheir participation in Functional Adult Literacy Programs of the two communities. Forrnthis pwpose, it employed ethnographic method in which a total of 51 participantsrn(community elders, Women in the functional Adult Literacy cenlers, those not yetrnenrolled, Facilitators and Key informants of both communities) were purposely selectedrnfor interview and Focus Group Discussion. In addition to these, participant observation,rnas an important data collection method in this kind of Approach was used to collect data.rnThe study revealed that there is difference in women cultural roles and behavioralrnexpectations between Awra Amba a!1d Ater MidiI' communities. Family, peers andrnschools and teachers are the major agents that socialize women towards differential asrnwell as similar gender roles. In Ater Midir, the gender roles coupled with negativernperception of the society towards women affects them in such a ways that they feelrnincapable and inadequate and resulted in lack of confidence on the part of women exceptrnin areas which are considered as theirs culturally. The cultural roles and expectationsrnbased on sex and internalizations of these by the women hamper their participation inrnFunctional Adult Literacy Programs (enrol/ment, achievement, classroom participationrnand subject choice) (Ater Midir) than those with similar roles and equal statuses (AwrarnAmba). Finally, It is recommended that there is a need for urgent allenlion by concernedrnbodies on changing such roles and expectations in order to create gender fa ir society,rnlike Awra Amba, allover the country. A needfor further study on this and other aspects ofrnthe issue on larger scale has also been suggested.