Born on September 30, 1945 in Tunis, from a family of theologians by her mother as well as from a family of wealthy traders by her father. She studied Philosophy in France, then obtained a diploma of high studies in Philosophy at the faculty of Letters in Paris. She enrolled as PhD student at "l'École pratique des hautes études", with Jacques Berque, but she did not finish this course. The events of May '68 took place simultaneously at her university trip.