a native of flekkefjord, she started her career as a model and studied at the university of bergen, where she earned her (6-year) candidate's degree in theology in 1978 and her doctoral degree in 1985. she was first employed as a research fellow at the university of bergen, and was appointed an associate professor in 1986. she was head of the department of gender studies at the university of bergen 1987-1988, and was found to be competent as a full professor in 1988. in 1989, she was appointed a docent (reader) in theology at uppsala university, relocating to stockholm.