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To numerous young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural female prime minister is powerful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

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

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

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

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.

She's also against women being in line for succession in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her statements during her election bid – saying she supports giving financial benefits to companies that offer daycare services to their employees and spoke of potential deductions for families spending on child-rearing.

But she has over the years backed the idea of a more traditional role for females in society and in the family.

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

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still directs them into traditional roles.

According to the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of females in its legislative body. In detail, females constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as authorities in businesses and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“She's also not really challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

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

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her agenda. We must be able to evaluate her equally 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 who her champions inside the party have were.

She was mentored of the deceased former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of identify with her achievement because it promotes this idea that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old agrees, saying that with her as a symbol for women in politics, “people are going to expect the identical from women as too”.

“They will demand us to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they hold, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.