"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?

The latter!

I've never heard anyone using that phrase.

I have assumed it means the latter.

I understand the sentiment but find that phrasing rather grating!

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.

I think it means STFU.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Mine is 65. I am privileged, it would seem

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

Haha, errm, No

I love this blog post about privilege.

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