usually isn't this to counter an argument like "poor people think/act/do certain ways" No. Privilege is by definition[1] not something you can control, ergo n

usually isn't this to counter an argument like "poor people think/act/do certain ways" No. Privilege is by definition[1] not something you can control, ergo not something you say or do. It doesn't have to be something you're aware of[2], or that has helped you at all[3], or that has anything to do with you personally[4], or that you can shed by admitting[5], or denying[6]. To check your privilege means you acknowledge someone else's perception of you[7] and shut up[8] while they judge you[9]. [0] http://groupthink.jezebel.com/to-the-princeton-privileged-kid-1570383740 http://groupthink.jezebel.com/to-the-princeton-privileged-ki... [1] Ibid. "Privilege is when you get conscious or unconscious benefits from a demographic trait about yourself that you cannot control." [2] Ibid. "These benefits may be overt or they may be covert." [3] Ibid. "...it can simply be the lack of something negative." [4] Ibid. "You have privilege because you are part of a group that has privilege. [...] remember once again, this isn't a personal conversation." [5] Ibid. "Looking deeply at things you're offering up as the ways in which you are privileged are going to show you that you are in fact privileged in the ways that you just denied." [6] Ibid. "All you'd like to do is keep staring at Megan Kelly's breasts and being blissfully oblivious that the world is a sad, fucked up place and dealing with your feelings of guilt that you got an okay deal?" [7] Ibid. "So when someone says "check your privilege", what they mean is embrace and admit that you have preconceived notions and a specific world perspective..." [8] Ibid. "...and to set those aside for a second and just listen." [9] Ibid. "Otherwise you'll just look like a complete fucking asshole when you write a hypocritical article completely missing the point of everything."