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To numerous young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female leader is powerful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a woman.

However, although the appearances suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather fascinating to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive view.”

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm right-wing politician.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against females being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that offer daycare services to their staff and mentioned potential deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years supported the idea of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. In detail, females make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in companies and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the norm. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be capable of evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Associations

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has caused individuals to describe her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.

Additionally, it is apparent by who her champions inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the deceased ex- conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this idea that we must be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for women in government, “the public are likely to anticipate the same from us as well”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they hold, and it might make our job more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as welcoming president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.