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

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is now led 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 see how individuals outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” a 21-year-old says.

“Everyone's like, ‘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 very naive view.”

Instead, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” noting: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to appeal to the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

She's also against women being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she moderated some of her statements during her election bid – saying she supports giving tax incentives to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of possible deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years backed the idea of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her country's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the most highly 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 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could alter how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, one must remember it required her over three decades to reach that position.

“She's also not really challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman further states that she ought not be placed on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

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

Ideological Context and Associations

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

Additionally, it is evident by who her champions inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the late ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this idea that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult a citizen says.

The 21-year-old agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “people are going to expect the same from us as too”.

“They will demand us to be conforming, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our job harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and regaining the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within a short time of taking power.

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