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

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

But while the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the news,” 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 interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates 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 leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many women from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she supports giving tax incentives to businesses that provide daycare services to their employees and mentioned possible deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

But she has over the years supported the notion of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the home.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive record on equality concerns.

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its legislative body. In detail, females make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

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

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it took her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not truly going against the norm. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

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

“We need to make sure we're discussing her policies. We must be able to evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Influences

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

It's also evident by who her champions within the LDP have were.

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to sort of relate to her success because it furthers this notion that we must be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from women as well”.

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

Future Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.