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For many female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman leader is powerful and formative.

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

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

It was rather interesting to observe how individuals outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.

People are saying, ‘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 “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

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

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would allow married couples to have different last names, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften some of her statements during her election bid – saying she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that provide daycare services to their employees and spoke of potential tax breaks for households spending on childcare.

Yet she has over the years backed the notion of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the home.

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

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of females in its legislative body. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how females view their opportunities.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old notes 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.

“She's also not truly going against the norm. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're discussing her policies. We need to be capable of evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Associations

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

Additionally, it is evident by who her champions within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

His faction's backing for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of identify with her achievement because it furthers this idea that we must be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a symbol for females in government, “people are going to expect the same from women as too”.

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

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will face – including addressing a slow growth and inflation and regaining the trust of a frustrated and angry electorate, as well as welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

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