🔗 Share this article

To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female prime minister is powerful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

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

It was rather fascinating to observe how individuals outside Japan have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and equal rights 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 perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

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

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have different last names, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

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

However, she moderated some of her statements during her election bid – saying she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of potential deductions for families investing in childcare.

Yet she has historically backed the notion of a more traditional role for women in society and in the family.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar performance on gender issues.

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. Specifically, women make up about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Appointment

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as 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 psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and the community, despite biased expectations and norms still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that position.

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

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We need to be capable of evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”

Ideological Background and Associations

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

Additionally, it is apparent by who her supporters inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the deceased former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the government's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “people are going to expect the identical from us as too”.

“They're going to expect us to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they hold, and it could render our role more difficult.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as well as hosting president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.