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For many female youth in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman leader is powerful and formative.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

But while the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

It was rather fascinating to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” a 21-year-old says.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the governing LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned possible deductions for families investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years backed the idea of a more traditional position for females in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar performance on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still directs them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to increase the number of women legislators and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economic power ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. In detail, women make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

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 finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in companies and the community, even as biased expectations and norms still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, one must remember it took her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not really going against the norm. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

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 need to be able to evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the patriarchy.

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

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is challenging for females to somewhat identify with her achievement because it furthers this notion that we must be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for females in politics, “people are going to expect the identical from women as well”.

“They will demand us to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they have, and it could render our role harder.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as welcoming the US leader within days of taking power.

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