The origins of Latin American societies differ from American cultures (US & Canada) that were based on the more egalitarian English Common Law. (I know; they treated Native Americans badly but for the purposes of illustrating the basic difference between the 2 regions I'm not going there)

Latin American societies started out more feudal in nature, with a strong distinct ruling class of Spanish and Portuguese descent who lorded it over the natives. Even today Mexico is controlled by 8 'ruling' families.

Spanish Land Grant Law, remnants of which prevailed for many years in the US Southwest as well, did not recognize women as having contractual capacity, as one small example of the vast cultural differences.