She was born in Sandnes as a daughter of Hans Aasland (1855–1901) and Hanna Marie Nielsen (1857–1957).

In 1945 she briefly served as the director of Bredtveit women's prison,[1] which had been a concentration camp during World War II's occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany.

Later in 1945, when Gerhardsen's Second Cabinet assumed office, Aasland became a consultative minister in the Ministry of Social Affairs.

[1] According to historian and political scientist Trond Nordby she was a particularly weak government minister, as she was "not able to carry through anything" (this claim was built on interviews with Aasland's successors Rakel Seweriin and Gudmund Harlem).

[6] After stepping down as government minister, Aasland worked as an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Social Affairs.