Alternate Experience Theories in Action

Can Idiosyncrasy Credit Apply to Black STEM Professionals?

When interviewing Dr. Crystal Richardson, it was fascinating to learn about her experience in immunology/microbiology. I was particularly interested when I inquired about how her identity as a black woman has affected her climb to her current position. When wrestling with and processing her response the theory of idiosyncrasy credit in leadership came to mind. Idiosyncrasy credit is a person’s capacity to acceptably deviate from group expectations. According to Edwin Hollander, these credits are earned over time in the perception of others by competence in helping to achieve the group task goals and conformity to the group as a sign of loyalty. In the context of a leader, leaders who act in a highly conformist manner accumulate idiosyncrasy credits over time. When applying this theory to black women the question arises; how does one gain idiosyncrasy credit to deviate from group expectations when they have no ability to conform to the group in the first place? Research has long been dominated by white men, similar to the majority of higher education due to history, and although demographics are changing it is evident that this demographic ratio has not budged much. This meaning when Dr. Richardson was entering every aspect of her ascent to her current position, there was never an opportunity for her to conform to the group identity, as a large part of the group identity is white and male. She and other black STEM professionals, purely based on their appearance, are unable to gain idiosyncrasy credit in the way others do. There is no room to gain idiosyncrasy credit in order to deviate because purely the existence of a black woman in STEM is deviation. This leads to constant questioning of ones belonging and qualification. Dr. Richardson’s experience provides an excellent example of this. She explained; “A lot of people always wonder why I was in certain places. They would assume I was the secretary or janitor when in reality I was the professor or lead project manager. There was always an assumption that I was not meant to be doing the things I was doing.” For Dr. Richardson no matter what level of qualification, skill, or experience she has she must gain idiosyncrasy credit in other more difficult ways. For black STEM professionals, it seems evident that their existence in the STEM field means starting and existing with negative credit.