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To numerous young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever woman prime minister is impactful and formative.

It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

But while the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

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

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a rather simplistic view.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is opposed to women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her statements during her election bid – saying she supports giving financial benefits to companies that offer childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has historically supported the notion of a conventional role for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. In detail, females constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how females view their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who became the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be capable of evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Background and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has led people to label her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

It's also evident by who her champions inside the party have been.

She's the protégé of the late former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to somewhat relate to her achievement because it promotes this idea that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult a citizen says.

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

“They will demand us to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it could render our role harder.”

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as hosting president Trump within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.