Japan's First Woman Leader: An Unprecedented Event with Caveats

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

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

However, although the appearances speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to see how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura states.

“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 equal rights in Japan’.

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

Conversely, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces 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 country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a strategic decision from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

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

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in childcare.

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

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are some of the most highly 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 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its legislative body. In detail, females constitute 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 emergency contraception sold over the counter in more than 90 nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Leadership

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

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to reach that position.

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

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be capable of criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Influences

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

Additionally, it is evident by which individuals her champions within the LDP have were.

She was mentored of the late ex- conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

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

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

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and regaining the confidence of a discontented and angry electorate, as in addition to welcoming 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 agenda.