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

This signifies a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the appearances speak of a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

It was rather interesting to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive interpretation.”

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

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

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 parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is opposed to 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 offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential tax breaks for households investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the family.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar record on gender issues.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations of a conservative society that still directs them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among 148 nations, with female representation in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of women legislators and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females make up about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how females view their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, one must remember it took her over three decades to get to that position.

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

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

“It is essential to ensure we're talking about her policies. We need to be able to evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context 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.

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

She's the protégé of the late former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for women to sort of identify with her success because it furthers this notion that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

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

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

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

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