For many young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female prime minister is impactful and influential.
It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has long been dominated 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 observe how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old states.
“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.
“I think that's a very naive view.”
Conversely, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”
A strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.
And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm right-wing politician.
Analysts note her ascension is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.
Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from keeping their maiden names.
She's also against females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.
However, she did soften some of her messaging during her campaign – saying she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and mentioned possible deductions for families investing in child-rearing.
Yet she has historically supported the notion of a conventional position for women in society and in the home.
When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar performance on equality concerns.
The Country's Gender Gap in Context
Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.
Based on the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among 148 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.
Top roles have historically been held by men and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the number of women legislators and business leaders.
The world's fourth largest economic power ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.
Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.
Mixed Responses to the Historic Leadership
Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could alter how women perceive their opportunities.
“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed local media.
Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in companies and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.
However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to reach that office.
“She's also not really challenging the grain. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”
The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.
“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We need to be able to evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”
Political Context and Influences
It is not only what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.
It's also evident by which individuals her champions within the LDP have been.
She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most powerful conservative blocs.
His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in uniting the party's right wing in her favor.
“I do feel that it is challenging for females to sort of relate to her achievement because it furthers this idea that we must be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.
The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “people are going to expect the identical from us as too”.
“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our role more difficult.”
Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations
Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within a short time of taking power.
It's safe to say that no-one expects gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.
