🔗 Share this article

For many young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's inaugural female prime minister is impactful and formative.

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

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

“It was quite fascinating to observe how individuals outside Japan have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

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

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

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her country.

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

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have different last names, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her election bid – stating she favours giving tax incentives to companies that provide childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned potential deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a conventional position for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Inequality in Context

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 traditional roles.

According to the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have historically been held by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. In detail, women make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how females view their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as leaders in businesses and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to reach that position.

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

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be capable of evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Political Background and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the male-dominated system.

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

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her success because it furthers this idea that we must be obedient with the status quo,” young adult a citizen remarks.

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for females 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 job more difficult.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.