Feminists, Science and Tang: A Winning Combination

By Jess Hobbs, Communications Intern

The powdered orange beverage known as Tang isn't typically marketed as an inspiring product for women, but during a series of commercials, one woman was moved.

In the early 1970s NOW got word that the makers of Tang were looking for women scientists with "cute kids" to shoot a television commercial. As the past president of her New Jersey chapter, marine biologist Judith S. Weis learned about the casting call through NOW. Thinking she and her family fit the description, Weis tried out and was selected for the ad, which ran on TV for many months.

A few years ago, Weis wrote an article about her brush with fame for the Association for Women in Science Magazine, largely attributing the opportunity to her connections through the NOW network.

Just this year, Weis received a letter from another woman scientist, Lyn Caltabiano, who was a girl when the ads aired. She thanked Weis for her participation in the Tang commercials, which inspired Caltabiano to pursue a career in science: "I vividly remember the commercials and thinking -- I could do that!" Caltabiano wrote.

Caltabiano received a Ph.D. in pathology in 1987 and currently has a successful career in pharmaceutical research and development. As if that weren't enough, Caltabiano's daughter is pursuing a career in engineering, carrying on in her mother's footsteps.

Weiss was touched by Caltabiano's letter, and had to share it with NOW: "None of this would have happened were it not for the information that was passed down through NOW."

Today, NOW still looks to inform women nationwide about opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related fields. Women currently make up only about 25 percent of the technology workforce, primarily as a result of lingering stereotypes that discourage women from entering the field or create obstacles for them when they do pursue STEM-related careers.

That's why NOW is continuing the practice of passing on valuable information to its supporters. The National Science Foundation wants women and other underrepresented groups in the science and engineering fields to be aware of two exceptional opportunities for U.S. students: (1) the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) aimed at undergraduate, graduate, and faculty audiences; and (2) the East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) Program aimed at graduate and faculty audiences. These two programs offer a rare opportunity to build a promising future in STEM fields, and NOW encourages women to apply.

More than ever, funding and resources like this are available to women, thanks in part to the progress that's been made since NOW's founding and the work of activists like Weis who serve as role models for countless women and girls.