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For many young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever female prime minister is powerful and influential.

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

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

“It was quite interesting to observe how individuals outside Japan have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old 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 rather simplistic interpretation.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan 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 conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many women from retaining their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is opposed to women being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of possible tax breaks for families investing in child-rearing.

But she has historically supported the idea of a conventional position for females in society and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into conventional positions.

According to the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among 148 nations, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economy places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how females perceive their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as leaders in companies and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

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

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the men.”

The young woman further states that she ought not be placed on a pedestal simply because she is a woman.

“We need to make sure we're talking about her agenda. We must be able to criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Context and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is evident by which individuals her champions inside the party have been.

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

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the conservative wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to somewhat relate to her achievement because it furthers this idea that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “people are going to expect the same from us as too”.

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

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.