🔗 Share this article

For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural female leader is impactful and formative.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

However, although the optics suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted 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’.

In my opinion that's a rather simplistic view.”

Conversely, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

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

She's also opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to companies that provide childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned potential deductions for households spending on childcare.

Yet she has historically backed the notion of a conventional position for females in society and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and most skilled in the world and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economy 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 legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could change how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to reach that office.

“She's also not really going against the norm. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

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

“We need to make sure we're discussing her policies. We must be capable of evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Associations

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is apparent by which individuals her supporters within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the late former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for women to somewhat relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “people are likely to anticipate the same from us as well”.

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

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting president Trump 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 agenda.