Introduction
Many young women in underserved communities grow up in environments where struggle, instability, and generational poverty shape their beliefs about what’s possible for them. They face chronic setbacks, limited resources, and systemic barriers, and over time, they begin to feel like no effort will change their situation.
This psychological state is known as learned helplessness—a condition where repeated failures or hardships cause individuals to stop trying, even when opportunities arise. For youth in the MAUI GEMS program, this is a major barrier to engagement and success.
Why do some young women hesitate to take advantage of mentorship, scholarships, or leadership training? Why do they struggle to trust new opportunities? This blog explores the root causes of learned helplessness, how it affects participation in programs like MAUI GEMS, and what we can do to help break the cycle.
What Is Learned Helplessness and Why Does It Happen?
Learned helplessness develops when youth repeatedly experience situations where they have no control over the outcome. After enough disappointments, failures, or discouragement, they begin to believe that nothing they do will change their circumstances—so they stop trying.
For example:
A young girl dreams of going to college but has always heard, “People like us don’t make it that far.” Even when presented with scholarships and mentorship, she hesitates—deep down, she doesn’t believe she belongs in that world.
A teen has spent years in a household where her voice wasn’t valued. When she joins a leadership program, she struggles to participate—not because she’s uninterested, but because she’s learned that speaking up doesn’t make a difference.
A young woman has seen family members struggle financially no matter how hard they work. She assumes success is only for “other people,” and she doesn’t see the point in pursuing big dreams.
Learned helplessness isn’t about laziness or a lack of motivation—it’s a survival response to a world that has repeatedly told them they can’t succeed.
The Numbers Behind the Struggle
Studies show that:
70% of youth from underserved backgrounds experience learned helplessness.
Students growing up in poverty are five times more likely to drop out of high school than their higher-income peers (National Center for Education Statistics, 2024).
Survivors of childhood trauma are 60% more likely to enter abusive relationships due to feelings of powerlessness (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2024).
Percentage of Youth Experiencing Learned Helplessness
Here’s a look at how many underserved youth struggle with learned helplessness:
Without intervention, these young women continue cycles of poverty, struggle with low self-esteem, and miss out on life-changing opportunities.
How Learned Helplessness Shows Up in Youth Programs
Even when resources are available, many young women:
✔ Avoid leadership roles or participation in workshops due to self-doubt.
✔ Resist forming relationships with mentors because they fear being let down.
✔ Don’t apply for scholarships or internships because they assume they won’t get them.
✔ Show low confidence and a fear of failure, saying things like “I’m not good enough.”
Dropout Rates Among Underserved Youth vs. Those with Mentorship
One of the biggest consequences of learned helplessness is educational disengagement. But mentorship programs have been proven to help:
✔ 50% of underserved youth drop out of high school when they don’t receive guidance.
✔ Only 10% of mentored youth drop out—proving that mentorship is a game-changer.
How We Can Break the Cycle
1. Build Trust Through Consistency
Youth who experience learned helplessness struggle to believe in support systems because they’ve been let down before. Mentors and program staff must show up consistently—even when youth are hesitant or disengaged.
2. Create Small, Achievable Wins
Instead of expecting immediate participation, we can:
✔ Encourage youth to attend one workshop or speak up once in a discussion.
✔ Celebrate their efforts, no matter how small.
✔ Offer low-pressure leadership roles to build confidence.
3. Normalize Growth and Failure
Many of our girls avoid trying new things because they fear failure. Teaching them that mistakes are a part of learning and not a reflection of their worth helps build resilience.
4. Provide Role Models and Success Stories
When youth see women from similar backgrounds succeeding, it shifts their mindset. Hearing from former MAUI GEMS participants or community leaders helps them believe, “If she can do it, so can I.”
5. Offer Safe Spaces for Self-Expression
Many of our youth have learned to stay silent to avoid conflict or rejection. Programs like MAUI GEMS create safe spaces where girls can explore their dreams, process emotions, and build self-worth.
Does Mentorship Actually Work? The Data Says Yes!
📌 Mentored youth are 55% more likely to enroll in college (MENTOR National, 2024).📌 SEL programs improve academic performance by 11% and mental health outcomes by 22% (CASEL, 2024).📌 Self-esteem steadily increases in youth participating in mentorship programs.
Increase in Self-Esteem After Mentorship Programs
The data speaks for itself—mentorship, SEL, and leadership programs work.
A Call to Action: How You Can Help
At MAUI GEMS and What Makes You Feel Beautiful, we are working to break the cycle of learned helplessness by providing:✔ Long-term mentorship & leadership training✔ Social-emotional learning (SEL) programs✔ Internships & scholarship opportunities
But we need your help.
Ways to Get Involved:
✅ Become a Mentor – Be the consistent role model a young girl needs.
✅ Donate – Every contribution helps us provide more mentorship and SEL programs.
✅ Spread the Word – Share this post and raise awareness about learned helplessness.
✨ Join us in creating lasting change! Support Us Here
or Volunteer Today! (Here)
My Final Thoughts
Learned helplessness is not a life sentence. With the right support systems, youth can unlearn self-doubt and step into confidence, leadership, and success.
Through mentorship, small wins, and emotional support, we can help every young woman in our program rewrite her own story—one of resilience, empowerment, and possibility.
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