Gender Equality Policies in STEM in Latin America - A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

As the imperative for equitable representation in leadership roles within STEM grows more pronounced, the meticulous examination of existing policies that promote gender equality becomes increasingly vital. This scrutiny not only paves the way for progress but also fosters a culture of social inclusion. This research provides a snapshot of one facet of an ongoing, comprehensive research initiative dedicated to advancing impactful research on women’s leadership within STEM domains across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Specifically, this study undertakes the crucial task of identifying gender equality policies in the dynamic landscape of Latin America and the associated literature corpus. To achieve this, we conducted a systematic literature review, employing four reputable citation databases as our primary resources. The findings of our inquiry illuminate the multifaceted challenges associated with acquiring cross-country comparable data—essential for the assessment of policies and interventions designed to mitigate the pervasive gender gap in STEM. This study contributes by identifying the academic discourse on the topic and offering data for policymakers and researchers interested in improving women’s participation in STEM and promoting enduring gender equality. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.