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

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

But while the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to observe how people outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.

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’.

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

Conversely, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to companies that offer childcare facilities to their staff and mentioned potential tax breaks for households investing in childcare.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a conventional role for females in society and in the family.

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

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are among the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into conventional positions.

According to the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Leadership positions have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. In detail, females constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: 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 at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how women perceive their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who became the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told local media.

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

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

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

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

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be capable of evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context and Influences

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

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

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it furthers this notion that we must be obedient with the existing system,” young adult a citizen remarks.

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for women in government, “people are going to expect the same from women as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our role harder.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Making history, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least tackling a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as in addition to hosting the US leader within days of assuming office.

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