On 14 August 1916,[1][2] Philip was born Inger Margrethe Nygaard in Snekkersten, Tikøb, Egebæksvang [da].
[3] Philip was raised in a household in which her parents were educated academically and social and political topics were talked about.
[3] In 1935, she enrolled at the Ingwersen and Ellbrechts School as a student,[2][3] did the first part of her science examination at the University of Copenhagen,[4] and graduated as the first women economics cand.
[2][3] In 1951, she was employed to become a business supervisor at the Central Work Instructions in Copenhagen until 1954, where she became aware of economic and social impacts on young girls.
[2] Philip was a member of the Danish Women's Society in Aarhus, serving as chair of its youth circle from 1944 to 1946.
[4] Between 1960 and 1965, she served as a member of the Wages Council, the supervisory board of the Stutgården treatment home from 1961 to 1970 and the National Pension Commission in 1961.