I have so many disconnected thoughts about dandadan and gender- it’s just so chock full of brilliant allegory. Haven’t read the manga and don’t want spoilers but the anime has been so good
Aliens and ghosts as the ways that patriarchy hurts men and women respectively. Once Okarun and Momo experience this first hand, they understand eachother better.
Okarun essentially being emasculated by the representation of rage stemming from older women who want to protect women who are victims of assault. Through understanding this rage, he finds a power that he uses to protect Momo. Through all of this emasculation he finds stronger connections and a sturdier sense of self.
His want for masculinity isn’t inherently in opposition to understanding the women around him, but he must first work closely with women to find it.
The way Momo is made to feel ashamed of her grandmother’s supernatural practices. The complicated feelings of being embarrassed but also pissed that people were insulting her grandmother. Something something the way that society encourages women of different age groups to be alienated from one another.
The way that Momo finds her power in accepting and understanding her grandmother. The way she chooses to use it so protect and uplift herself and those around her.
The fact that Momo and her friends are all Gyaru. So unapologetically confident, loud and themselves, despite the way that it can cause issues for them socially.
Idk I just have a lot of feelings rn