The Nation's Pioneering Female Prime Minister: A Historic Event with Reservations

To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural female leader is powerful and formative.

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

However, although the appearances speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite fascinating to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

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

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

Conversely, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm right-wing politician.

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften certain her messaging during her campaign – saying she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for families investing in child-rearing.

But she has over the years backed the idea of a more traditional role for women in society and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar performance on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

According to the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among 148 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economy places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% 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 type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how females perceive their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who became the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a female prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

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

“We need to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be capable of evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Political Context and Associations

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is apparent by who her supporters inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the late ex- conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for women in politics, “people are going to expect the same from us as well”.

“They will demand us to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they have, and it could render our job more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the trust of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting the US leader within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.