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For many young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural woman leader is impactful and influential.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a woman.

However, although the optics suggest a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an advocate for change.

It was rather interesting to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the announcement,” 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 female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive view.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” 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 country.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

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

She's also opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to companies that offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has historically backed the idea of a conventional role for females in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes 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 field of politics particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its legislative body. In detail, women constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could alter how women view their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it required her more than 30 years to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not truly going against the grain. She's saying the same thing as the male politicians.”

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 agenda. We need to be able to evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Background and Associations

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

Additionally, it is evident by which individuals her supporters within the LDP have were.

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to sort of identify with her achievement because it furthers this idea that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult a citizen remarks.

The 21-year-old agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “the public are going to expect the same from us as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our job harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within a short time of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.