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For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman prime minister is impactful and influential.

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

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

“It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a rather simplistic interpretation.”

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

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her country.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would permit married couples to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against females being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her election bid – saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned possible deductions for families investing in child-rearing.

But she has historically backed the idea of a more traditional position for women in society and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks last 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 seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Historic Appointment

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

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it required her more than 30 years to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not truly challenging the norm. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal simply because she is a female.

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be capable of evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Influences

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

Additionally, it is apparent by who her champions inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her achievement because it furthers this idea that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “people are going to expect the identical from us as well”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it could render our role harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will face – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and regaining the trust of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting the US leader within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.