The Nation's Pioneering Female Leader: A Historic Event with Caveats

To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's inaugural woman prime minister is powerful 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.

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

It was rather fascinating to observe how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their staff and mentioned potential tax breaks for households investing in childcare.

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

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are among the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations of a conservative society that still directs them into conventional positions.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to boost 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 women in its legislative body. Specifically, women make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form 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.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Appointment

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

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “excel” as authorities in businesses and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it took her more than 30 years to get to that office.

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

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be able to evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Political Context and Influences

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

Additionally, it is evident by who her supporters within the LDP have been.

She was mentored of the late ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

His faction's backing for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing in her favor.

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

The 21-year-old concurs, stating that with her as a symbol for women in politics, “the public are going to expect the identical from us as well”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they hold, and it could render our role harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Making history, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as hosting 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.