"Check your privilege" what exactly does it mean?

[Greythorne]

I hear it all the time but am confused.

Does "check" mean "check" in the American sense of coat check, ie you check your coat at the door to a club, so you check your privilege, that is leave it aside.

Or "check" in the sense of check up, meaning assess your privilege?

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

The latter!

[peggyundercrackers]

I've never heard anyone using that phrase.

[LoveSardines]

I have assumed it means the latter.

I understand the sentiment but find that phrasing rather grating!

[Greythorne]

I just assumed it was an expression that originated in the US and it made me wonder.

Peggy
I have never heard anyone say it as an imperative but I often hear people discussing checking privilege in this board.

[FloraFox]

I think it means STFU.

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

Do you think, Flora? I think it just means "be aware of your position"

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Ha, I think it SHOULD mean be aware but in practice it's often used to mean STFU.

[StewiesBack]

Totally used as STFU rather than "be aware of your privileges"

[FloraFox]

Bill I've never heard it used other than in a hostile way and usually against women.

[Beachcomber]

The "check" bit apparently comes from "checklist".

Like so many buzz words/phrases on the internet, it has become overused and adapted by a lot of people to be used as a trump card in online arguments discussions to shut someone up, particularly women.

knowyourmeme.com/memes/check-your-privilege

[almondcakes]

The other synonym for STFU is 'educate yourself.' Often used in combination with 'check your privilege.'

Which I have, using Beachcomber's entertaining link. It is -180 apparently.

[AnyFucker]

Mine is 65. I am privileged, it would seem

[almondcakes]

AF, is this because you have awarded yourself an additional 20 points because you consider yourself exceptionally attractive?

[AnyFucker]

Haha, errm, No

[calmet]

I love this blog post about privilege.

andrea366.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/the-problem-with-privilege-by-andrea-smith/