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To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural female leader is powerful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the optics speak of a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an advocate for change.

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

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

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

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

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

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many women from keeping their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften certain her statements during her election bid – saying she favours giving financial benefits to companies that provide daycare services to their staff and mentioned potential deductions for families spending on childcare.

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

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

Japan's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have historically been held by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. In detail, females make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Appointment

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

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in companies and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it required her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not truly going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

The young woman further states that she ought not be placed on a pedestal simply because she is a woman.

“We need to ensure we're discussing her policies. We must be capable of evaluate her equally 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 male-dominated system.

Additionally, it is evident by who her supporters within the LDP have were.

She was mentored of the late 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 head of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her success because it furthers this idea that we must be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

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

“They will demand women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it might make our job harder.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as hosting the US leader within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.