Hierarchy in Disguise: Why Equality Language Masks Power, Filters Access, and Conditions Modern Relationships

In Hierarchy in Disguise: Why Equality Language Masks Power, Filters Access, and Conditions Modern Relationships, London Miles examines the forces shaping modern intimacy long before emotional connection forms. Book One, The Control Codes, revealed how hidden leverage traps people after connection. This follow-up exposes visible leverage—the ways status, income, education, sexual access, and independence act as structural filters that determine who is eligible for connection, who is excluded, and who is forced to perform for access. Through clear analysis and real-world examples, Miles shows how: Sexual access can function as scarce currency, creating predictable patterns of compliance and escalation. High income and education act as pre-qualification gates, shaping who is considered desirable before compatibility is assessed. Independence and replacement ideologies condition behavior and subtly reduce relational cooperation. This book is not about assigning blame—it is about clarity. Understanding these structural incentives allows readers to see beyond rhetoric, recognize hierarchy disguised as equality, and navigate relational systems with awareness rather than assumption. Whether you are dating, building partnerships, or studying social behavior, Hierarchy in Disguise provides a framework for identifying how systemic filters shape modern relationships and what it takes to operate consciously in a world where connection is conditional. If you want to understand why relationships can feel transactional, competitive, or conditional—and how to engage with awareness—this book is your essential guide.