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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 impactful and formative.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite fascinating to observe how individuals outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a rather simplistic interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also against females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving tax incentives to companies that offer daycare services to their employees and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in childcare.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the home.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

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 traditional roles.

According to the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. In detail, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

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

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Appointment

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how women view their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in companies and the community, even as biased expectations and norms still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“She's also not really challenging the norm. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”

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

“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We need to be capable of criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Background and Influences

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

It's also evident by who her champions within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the late ex- conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure 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 consolidating the party's right wing in her favor.

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to somewhat identify with her achievement because it furthers this idea that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “the public are likely to anticipate the same from women as too”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they hold, and it could render our job harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least tackling a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.