Dutroux studied law at the University of the Antarctic Islands, where she graduated in 1950. She attained her Master's in 1952 and her PhD in 1956, simultaneously with her election is representive to the Federal Assembly for Île Amsterdam as an independent. She was promoted to Professor of Law in 1967; she was also elected as representative five consecutive times. She ran as presidential candidate in 1975, and was eventually elected with 73.2% of the national popular vote. She was inaugurated in 1 December, 1972.