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For many young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural female prime minister is powerful and influential.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a woman.

But while the appearances suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

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

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female 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 very naive interpretation.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, 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 leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their birth surnames.

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

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – saying she favours giving financial benefits to companies that offer childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned potential deductions for households spending on child-rearing.

But she has over the years supported the notion of a conventional position for females in the community and in the home.

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

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are among the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th among 148 countries, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to increase the number of women legislators and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its legislative body. 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 female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Appointment

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it took her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly going against the norm. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a woman.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We must be able to criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Political Background and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.

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

She's the protégé of the late former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the conservative wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is difficult for females to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

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

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our job harder.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, 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 high on her priority list.