🔗 Share this article

To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural female prime minister is impactful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

But while the appearances speak of a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather fascinating to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.

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

“I think that's a rather simplistic view.”

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

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 same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow spouses to have different last names, preventing many women from retaining their maiden names.

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

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and mentioned possible tax breaks for families investing in childcare.

But she has historically supported the idea of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her country's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they struggle with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. In detail, females make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed 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 Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how women perceive their opportunities.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who became the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as authorities in companies and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

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

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be able to evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Associations

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

It's also apparent by which individuals her supporters inside the party have were.

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

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the party's right wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of identify with her success because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the same from women as too”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it could render our role more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting the US leader within a short time of taking power.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.