The Nation's Pioneering Woman Leader: An Unprecedented Moment with Caveats

To numerous female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever woman leader is impactful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

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

“It was quite fascinating to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

“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 equal rights in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive interpretation.”

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

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 staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

She's also against women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – saying she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of possible deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

But she has over the years supported the idea of a conventional role for females in the community and in the family.

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

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females make up about 15.7% 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 “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Leadership

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

“There is great significance in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a female prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and the community, even as biased expectations and norms still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it required her over three decades to get to that position.

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

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

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be capable of evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Associations

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has led people to label her as a defender of the patriarchy.

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

She's the protégé of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

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

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

Future Obstacles and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a discontented and irate voting public, as well as welcoming president Trump within a short time of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects gender equality issues to be a top priority on her agenda.