Gender equality and women's participation in international business in Latin America: A systematic review of the period 2020-2025.

Abstract

Gender equality in international business is key to promoting inclusion and economic development in Latin America. This study aimed to determine the trend in gender equality in women's participation in international business in Latin America. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA method, considering empirical articles and reviews published between 2020 and 2025, 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 such as “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 burdens, gaps in digital skills, and cultural stereotypes persist. It is concluded that the trend between 2020 and 2025 shows sustained growth in female participation in this area, reflected in the greater presence of women in business leadership positions and in internationalization processes. Likewise, advances in digitization, training, and education in STEM are highlighted.