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

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

But while the optics speak of a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

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

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

In my opinion that's a very naive view.”

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

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning base 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 allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

Nonetheless, she did soften certain her messaging during her election bid – saying she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of possible tax breaks for families spending on childcare.

Yet she has over the years supported the idea of a more traditional role for women in society and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's less than impressive record on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, 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 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 percentage of women in its legislative body. Specifically, females make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

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

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her policies. We need to be capable of criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Political Background and Associations

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

It's also apparent by which individuals her champions within the LDP have were.

She's the protégé of the late ex- conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, 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 government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to sort of relate to her achievement because it furthers this notion that we must be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for women in politics, “the public are likely to anticipate the identical from us as too”.

“They will demand women to be conforming, not go against the beliefs that they have, and it could render our job harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.