More Than a Body: Your Body Is an Instrument, Not an Ornament

Biographical Note:
Twin sisters Dr. Lexie Kite and Dr. Lindsay Kite received their PhDs from the University of Utah. Their academic research on media studies and body image inspired them to establish the non-profit Beauty Redefined in 2009 (while concluding their co-written master's thesis and beginning their doctoral research) to help women recognize and reject harmful messages about their bodies, worth, and potential, and redefine the meaning and value of beauty in their lives. Since then, Lexie and Lindsay have become leading experts in body image resilience and media literacy and have been featured in a variety of national publications and interviews. Today, they continue to build on their academic work and the passion it stoked for helping girls and women through Beauty Redefined's online body image resilience course and course facilitator program, and regular speaking events for thousands of people of all ages at universities, high schools, and community organizations.

Review Quotes:

"More Than a Body is a welcome salve for those who are weary of the internal war with their body. Through their groundbreaking body image resilience model, Lexie and Lindsay offer many practical ways to make peace with your body, showing how body image disruptions can be a pathway for healing, rather than provoke a descent into a shame spiral. Ultimately, readers will find real solutions to reunite with their whole, embodied selves." --Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, co-author of Intuitive Eating "Loving yourself is easier said than done. I've been trying for years. There's more to it than following a bunch of body-positive Instagram accounts or saying nice things to yourself in the mirror. Thankfully, Lindsay and Lexie have written a step-by-step guide on how to dismantle self-objectification and develop a positive body image. This is the perfect book for someone who wants to change their outlook but doesn't know where to start." --Nikki Glaser, comedian, TV host, and host of the podcast You Upwith Nikki Glaser "As an expert immersed in this field for decades, it is rare that I come across writing that causes me to reflect differently on my own body--but More Than a Body does so powerfully. The Kite sisters' work is not trite self-help or body positivity clichés; it is masterfully crafted research and real-life experience that represents a crucial step forward in our culture's understanding of bodies and beauty ideals. The world needs this book." --Lindo Bacon, PhD, researcher and author of Radical Belonging, Body Respect, and Health at Every Size "Lindsay and Lexie are the wise, thoughtful, patriarchy-smashing older sisters that every girl and woman needs in their life. In More Than a Body, they meticulously dissect the deluge of messaging that says we should tie our worth to our appearance--and then they blow all of it apart. They inspire us all to imagine what more we can be and what more we can do when we are able to take up all the space we need in this world." --Virginia Sole-Smith, author of The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image, and Guilt in America "Lindsay and Lexie have a way of weaving you back through your own experiences, but this time, with an entirely new lens on the why. Packed with facts, science, and the truth about the distortions in media, this book brought me feelings of purpose, safety, and the good kind of desire to fight when it comes to existing in a body in today's world. Lindsay and Lexie tell stories many of us could have written ourselves and unpack just how good and okay we are and have always been." --Sarah Nicole Landry, writer, The Birds Papaya "This book could save your life. In a lively and engaging style, Lindsay and Lexie discuss the grave harm caused by self-objectification and offer remedies that encourage resilience. A most welcome addition to the literature on body image." --Jean Kilbourne, feminist activist, media critic, author, and creator of the film series "Killing Us Softly: Advertising's Image of Women"

• How do you feel about your body?
• Have you ever stayed home from a social activity or other opportunity because of concern about how you looked?
• Have you ever passed judgment on someone because of how they looked or dressed?
• Have you ever had difficulty concentrating on a task because you were self-conscious about your appearance?

Contributor Bio:Kite, Lexie
Dr. Lexie Kite is identical twin sisters with Dr. Lindsay Kite. They both received PhDs from the University of Utah. Their academic research on media studies and body image inspired them to establish the non-profit Beauty Redefined in 2009 (while concluding their co-written master's thesis and beginning their doctoral research) to help a greater number of females recognize and reject harmful messages about their bodies, worth, and potential, and redefine the meaning and value of beauty in their lives. Since then, Lexie and Lindsay have become leading experts in body image resilience and media literacy--authors of numerous studies and books have cited their original research--and have been featured in a variety of national media outlets. Today, they continue to build on their academic work and the passion it stoked for helping girls and women through Beauty Redefined's online Body Image Resilience Program and course facilitator training, blogging, social media activism , and regular speaking engagements for thousands of people of all ages in both secular and religious settings, from universities and high schools to church congregations and community organizations.

Contributor Bio:Kite, Lindsay
Dr. Lindsay Kite is identical twin sisters with Dr. Lexie Kite. They both received PhDs from the University of Utah. Their academic research on media studies and body image inspired them to establish the non-profit Beauty Redefined in 2009 (while concluding their co-written master's thesis and beginning their doctoral research) to help a greater number of females recognize and reject harmful messages about their bodies, worth, and potential, and redefine the meaning and value of beauty in their lives. Since then, Lexie and Lindsay have become leading experts in body image resilience and media literacy--authors of numerous studies and books have cited their original research--and have been featured in a variety of national media outlets. Today, they continue to build on their academic work and the passion it stoked for helping girls and women through Beauty Redefined's online Body Image Resilience Program and course facilitator training, blogging, social media activism , and regular speaking engagements for thousands of people of all ages in both secular and religious settings, from universities and high schools to church congregations and community organizations.