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

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the appearances suggest a progressive moment, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

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

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female 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.”

Conversely, Ms Ogura points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many women from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her election bid – saying she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in childcare.

Yet she has over the years supported the notion of a more traditional role for women in the community and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are among the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the political arena notably low.

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

The globally fourth biggest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. Specifically, women constitute about less than 16% 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 over ninety nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

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

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not truly going against the norm. 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.

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be capable of criticise her equally as all other leaders.”

Ideological Background and Influences

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

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

She was mentored of the deceased former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing behind her.

“I believe that it is challenging for females to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “people are going to expect the identical from us as well”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not go against the ideals that they hold, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.