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To numerous young girls in Japan today, the sight 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 woman.

However, although the appearances suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to observe how people outside Japan have reacted 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 female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a very naive interpretation.”

Instead, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” adding: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the ruling LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning 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 allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from keeping their maiden names.

She's also opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she did soften certain her messaging during her election bid – saying she supports giving tax incentives to businesses that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

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

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

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among 148 countries, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to increase the number of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still remain.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to get to that office.

“She's also not really going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

“We need to make sure we're talking about her agenda. We need to be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has led people to label her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.

It's also apparent by who her supporters within the LDP have been.

She was mentored of the late ex- conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for women to somewhat relate to her success because it furthers this notion that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for females in politics, “people are likely to anticipate the same from us as too”.

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

Future Obstacles and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as well as welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

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