Gender Equality and Women's Participation in International Business in Latin America: A Systematic Review of the 2020-2025 Period

Camila Luna Gutierrez D.; Kuipler Ramírez Príncipe J.; Alexander Jara Miranda R. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.979

Resumen

Gender equality in international business is key to promoting inclusion and economic development in Latin America. This study aimed to identify trends in gender equality regarding women's participation in international business in Latin America. To this end, a systematic review based on the PRISMA method was conducted, including empirical and review articles published between 2020 and 2025, available in full text and in Spanish, Portuguese, or English. The search was conducted in databases such as Google Scholar, ProQuest, Scielo, Redalyc, DOAJ, and Scopus, using terms related to “women entrepreneurs,” “gender equality,” and “international business.” Forty-two studies were selected that provided information on female participation and associated factors. The results show that the presence of women has a positive impact on innovation, digitalization, and business resilience, although barriers such as limited financing, role overload, gaps in digital skills, and cultural stereotypes persist. It is concluded that, between 2020 and 2025, women's participation in this field has experienced a continuous increase, evidenced by their greater presence in business leadership positions and in internationalization activities. Likewise, progress related to digitalization, training, and education in STEM fields is highlighted.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada del Norte