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For many female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever woman leader is impactful and influential.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

However, although the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to observe how people outside Japan have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

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

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

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

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

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would allow married couples to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of possible deductions for households investing in childcare.

But she has historically supported the notion of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the family.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on equality concerns.

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

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

According to the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among 148 nations, with female representation in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to increase the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception sold over the counter in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how females perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that position.

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

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

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be able to criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Associations

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

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

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

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the party's right wing in her favor.

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this notion that we must be obedient with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

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

“They will demand us to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they hold, and it could render our job more difficult.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – including tackling a sluggish economy and inflation and regaining the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her agenda.