[1][2] Hedi Lang was born on 30 October 1931 in Uster to Johann Gehri, a cheesemaker from Seedorf, Bern.

She married Ernst Lang in 1957 and apprenticed at banks for several years before joining the staff of Die Arbeit, the socialist newspaper where her husband was the editor.

In 1961, she joined the Social Democratic Party and in 1970, she was elected to the council of Wetzikon, where she and Ernst moved after their marriage.

Lang was elected to the National Council as one of 10 women that year, the first to serve in the Federal Assembly.

In 1995, she left the council, having successfully shepherded the work on the expansion of Zurich Airport.