Born Catherine Ann Sourbut, she was brought up in Yorkshire, England.[1] She studied modern languages at the University of Bath, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1991.[2][3] As part of her degree she spent a year abroad in Germany, and experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall.[4] She then studied for a Master of Science (MSc) degree in social research, which she completed in 1993, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, which she completed in 1997.[3][4] Her doctoral thesis was titled "Constructions of motherhood: representations and realities of women's experiences as mothers in the former GDR under state socialism and capitalism".[5] She remained at the University of Bath to teach in the German section of the Department of European Studies & Modern Languages, before working as a research manager within the Department of Psychology and the School for Health from 2000 to 2007.[4]