People with low self-esteem and low self-worth are more likely to be in abusive relationships and suffer violence. 
That’s one of the themes of a film called Embrace, which focuses on the constant struggle many women face when it comes to body image.
“We really do struggle with size acceptance and celebrating (our) bodies,” says Michelle Schryer, Executive Director of the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, “because we are bombarded with messages and images that tell us what we should look like.”
She says it’s more than just a causal link.
“If someone has really low self-esteem, it makes them vulnerable, and one of the things they’re vulnerable to is violence in a relationship,” Schryer explains. “If someone feels ‘I’m not really worth all that much, I don’t deserve that much’ it’s going to have an impact.”
The film is being presented by the C-K Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women in the UCC Theatre at 7pm tonight.