"You Make Me Want to Be a Man" received favourable reviews from most music critics. David Jeffries from AllMusic wrote the extended biography to Utada, and highlighted the track as an album and career standout moment in Utada's discography. Ridwin Khan from Animefringe.com said that "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" has an "interesting hook and an energetic beat." Bradley Stern from MuuMuse was positive in his review, labelling it a "futuristic J-pop-infused creation". Lucas Villa from Axs.com commended Utada's lyrical and vocal delivery, saying that the lyrics "got her point across on the battle-born dance track." A reviewer from CD Journal gave the song a mixed review, complimenting Utada's song writing for portraying "real intentions" and praising the song's "fluctuation" of composition but also criticizing the song's production for its continuous looping.
