FuckedMyWayUpToTheTop

The levels of (very up to date) social commentary here explored through the omegaverse are INSANE - from socioeconomic to medical, reproductive rights, autonomy, gender ideology, beauty standards/sexual dimorphism, sexuality and labor topics, even discussions around choice vs intersectional feminism (omegaism), and to what extent omegas can be agents and enablers of the alpha dominated system, when is it a systemic issue and out of their control as omegas, and where, beyond oppression and systemic programming, individuality (and with that, personal motives and the humanization of both the oppressed and the oppressors) starts. It's not just a very applicable dissection of real life patriarchy and capitalism (the duality of doom, one can't function as efficiently without the other), but it also makes absolute sense within the omegaverse and its own implications as a system, like, it accurately explores what would happen in an actual world like the omegaverse - from the constant oppression to the body horror, the gender essentialism, the domination over a body that births whilst that same body is abused, undermined, used for unpaid labor so the alpha can be exploited for his labor, and reduced to the second gender after alpha.

The layer of horror specific to the omegaverse that adds a whole new level to the sexual exploitation and an omega's vulnerability is the pheromone and heat cycle phenomenon, which, ideally, puts alphas in a position of responsibility and the omegas - in a position of protectability. The nature of the heat cycle, rendering an omega sexually oozing outside of their control and ability to consent is utterly horrifying and as in almost every omegaverse, is exploited as well as abused by alphas. They don't see themselves as responsible to control their own sexual behavior or inhibit the response to pheromones, especially when omegas are in heat, but rather use an omega's reproductive function as proof they are weaker and thus, to be exploited; that this is just nature, and based on that, the natural hierarchy. This, very specific to the genre central part of omega plight, in this manga, is packaged in nonetheless realistic struggles for equality, rights and humanization beyond gender reductivism.

What I find particularly intriguing is how each character here represents their own way of coping with the system and how the characters themselves clash - we have Takatora who is an opportunist, a conformist and wants to bend himself to the system as he copes with internalized omegaphobia and alpha envy, given his alpha upbringing and socioeconomic status (he has many privileges and being an omega is that one disadvantage that sends him in a spiral). Watching him struggle so deeply with his omega existence and identity was very painful at times, and then seeing how he's obsessed with passing down his genes further indicates to me that he's coping with that, but then also trying to prove to himself that even with his same secondary gender sexuality, it's possible to create a family, a legacy. The pressure to be what he never will become, not realizing he's trying to serve an ideal of a system that is fundamentally against him ,is something so real and relatable to probably many marginalized groups irl. He's the epitome of 'the issue is not the system, it's you' and individualist thinking. He can afford that mentality, though, because he still has socioeconomic and lookism privileges, and profits from the system the way it is.

Then we have Kameyama who embodies the idealist, the activist and the big picture thinker, opposing conformity and seeing each struggle through an intersectional lens. The fact him and Takatora got together was brilliant because it exposed (and opened up) the conversation about making sense of one self as an individual whilst having to come to terms with the fact nothing happens in a vacuum and the system will always influence you, no matter how much you try to swim against it or bend for it. Takatora seemed to cope a lot with gender essentialism and notions like people having individual agency (a privileged view considering he's rich lol), the fact omegas lose their humanity when one only looks at them as victims (the way he thinks Kameyama sees it, which he doesn't), however, to me, that revealed how he probably feels about himself - he doesn't want to be framed as the one gender that gets victimized, because this means he'd have to come to terms with the fact that whatever he does, he's still an omega in an alphaist world. It made sense Kameyama was drawn to Takatora as he saw a hardworking, strong omega in him, but he realized his reasons and motives for that were to be conformist and compete with alphas, not to show to the world that omegas are capable and strong as they are, while improving conditions for them and dismantling systemic hurdles, both visible and less visible ones. He outgrew Takatora, but learned his strength and discipline.

Osuzume to me represents both gender dysphoria, and generally
struggling with gender performance and chasing beauty standards. The more interesting it is to see Takatora, the alpha performer who goes for the daintiest of omegas, pick him towards the end. It still feels like an impulsive rebound to me and I can't exactly pinpoint how sincere Takatora is and how much it's just his breeding obsession, but it would be admirable to see character development happen for Takatora through exploring a connection with Osuzume, making him unpack whatever he wasn't able to fully confront with Kameyama. (Although I feel like the relationship with Kameyama must have planted many seeds for him to wake up. He will become woke!!!!)

Each and every character here tbh deserves their own story, like that alpha pharmaceutical worker (through him, the conversation about medical underrepresentation of omegas and their endocrine systems could be opened up; how the fact their heats are part of what's holding them back often is a problem that could be treated more efficiently, but isn't to keep omegas more vulnerable and dependent on alphas), his background, and his relationship with Arisaka (my boy Arisaka has been through so fucking much and I feel like he still sees himself as the stereotype put onto him by omega-sexist society, I'd love to see more of his inner world) or the two other dainty omegas. I want to see more of Enma and his scientific research as well as motivations and life philosophy, upbringing, etc.! Everything about this story and the characters feels so fleshed out, so tangible, so real!

Oh, great, raping him while he's asleep. Awesome. Very nice.

Before some genius comes here and says 'BuT gArAm LIkEd iT', the ML wasn't given any prior consent, he just went for it and the fact the MC happened to like that (which btw he could've thought it just a wet dream) doesn't change the fact what he did was pretty nasty and borderline rapey. ML is an absolute trash juice bag and has been pushy, boundary crossing and nasty so many times, yet the MC puts up with it cause big dick and nice face and whatever.