The idea of assessing privilege was not born on social media; it has existed since the mid-20th century and was popularised among academics in the mid-1980’s. However, it has been resurrected in recent years among the general population as a tool for mediating online discussions, usually those that center around oppression and the various ways for dealing with it.
The Internet is an amazing tool for sharing ideas, but it also removes all barriers between people. Anyone can effectively weigh in on any topic, which makes it difficult to establish safe spaces for discussion.
This is where the need for the phrase “check your privilege” comes in; while many, such as the author of last week’s article, “The meaning of privilege,” view it as a put down or brusque conversation-ender, in reality it is simply being told that the various privileges you experience have impacted you in such a way that you are unable to be a constructive participant.
The “check your privilege” movement is such an incendiary topic because it tells us that not everyone has something inherently valuable to add to every discussion. While this perhaps contradicts everything your parents, teachers, and Western society has ever taught you, it is painfully accurate.
Do not look to random online quizzes or memes for a legitimate application of the term “privilege.”
Many of us have grown up in the era of Twitter fights, ridiculous Youtube arguments, and hate speech under the guise of “dude, it’s a free country,” and are unfamiliar with the idea of simply listening and supporting those who are central to a discussion.
Becoming defensive and combative in response to being told to check your privilege derails all useful discussion, and means that people must waste time and resources reassuring privileged groups that they are not all horrible people, while simultaneously defending themselves from hate speech.
This can discourage many from discussing issues at all, let alone attempting to bridge the gap between minority groups and mainstream culture.
The idea that the movement would be used to “silence Caucasian students” or use white heterosexual cis men as scapegoats is unfounded; part of white privilege is enjoying a mainstream media culture that is incredibly sympathetic to any suffering at the hands of a cruel minority. A prime example of this would be Tal Fortgang, Princeton student and author of “Why I’ll Never Apologize for My White Male Privilege,” which was published by Time and went viral.
Obviously having privilege does not make you a horrible person, nor does it invalidate all of your efforts and successes. It can depend heavily on context, and the weight various privileges carry differs around the world.
However, it is not meant to be used as a pass/fail system; when used correctly, this movement is a lot more nuanced and impactful than many believe. Do not look to random online quizzes or memes for a legitimate application of the term.
While it is true that we all should take the time to examine our own privileges, the reality is that our society has had a rigid and complex hierarchical structure for hundreds of years, and the “obvious groups” that are “targeted” by the “check your privilege” movement are generally very well deserving of constructive criticism.
In a learning environment, where discussion is so heavily emphasized, it is important that participants realize the systematic and institutional benefits they experience, and how these may have shielded them from certain realities faced by others.
One of the most valuable parts of checking your privilege is realizing that not everything is about you. Once this is accepted there are infinite opportunities for learning, growth, and cooperation.
