Catharine (Cat) Saint-Croix

Real Men on Top reimagines patriarchy not simply as men’s domination of women but as a system that legitimizes inequality by organizing reality around the identity Man. The book argues that this identity emerges through culturally guiding myths that fashion Man as the identity of natural superiority over Woman, Animal, and Child. Blending philosophical analysis with historical reflection and personal narrative, the book shows how these myths of Man tie human worth to biologized identities, making them powerful tools for rationalizing exploitation and violence. It also demonstrates that these myths make Man the site of rigged competition that inevitably concentrates wealth at the top, harming even the majority of men. Real Men on Top calls readers to recognize patriarchy’s myths—in our homes, our halls of power, and our hearts—so that we can begin to reimagine stories of our life together.