The Oscar-winning actress recounted how, at the age of 17, she became pregnant after a brief relationship and felt that she wasn’t ready for motherhood. Field emphasized the importance of having the right to choose, expressing gratitude for the access she had at the time.
- Sally Field is getting political
- With the American elections coming she has spoken
- THIS is what she went though with abortion herself
Sally's memories
The Oscar winner first wrote about the abortion in her 2018 memoir “In Pieces,” but she revived the story ahead of the upcoming presidential election as a call for voters to elect Kamala Harris.
“I’ve been so hesitant to do this, to tell my horrific story,” Field wrote in the caption to the video. “It was during a time even worse than now. A time when contraception was not readily available and only if you were married. But I feel that so many women of my generation went through similar, traumatic events and I feel stronger when I think of them. I believe, like me, they must want to fight for their grandchildren and all the young women of this country.”
This poignant reflection resonates deeply in today’s climate, where reproductive rights are under increasing scrutiny.
“It’s one of the reasons why so many of us are supporting Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” the actor continued. “Everyone, please, pay attention to this election, up and down the ballot, in every state – especially those with ballot initiatives that could protect reproductive freedom. PLEASE. WE CAN’T GO BACK!!”
Field’s story comes at a time when the conversation around abortion is more relevant than ever. Following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, many states have implemented restrictive laws that significantly limit access to abortion services. This has led to a nationwide debate about women's rights, health care access, and bodily autonomy.
Advocates for reproductive rights argue that decisions about pregnancy should remain personal and not subject to government interference.
In many areas, women now face considerable obstacles in obtaining abortions, including mandatory waiting periods, parental consent laws, and limited availability of clinics.
These restrictions disproportionately affect marginalized communities, further exacerbating existing health disparities. In this challenging landscape, voices like Sally Field's serve as crucial reminders of the complexities surrounding reproductive choices and the need for continued advocacy for women's rights.
Field explained in the video that she still feels “very shamed” about the illegal abortion “because I was raised in the ’50s, and it’s ingrained in me.” The actor said that her family doctor brought her to Tijuana, Mexico after she became pregnant in order to perform the abortion.
“We parked on a really scroungy-looking street, it was scary and he parked about three blocks away and said, ‘See that building down there?’ And he gave me an envelope with cash and I was to walk into that building and give them the cash and then come right back to him,” Field said.
“There was a technician giving me a few puffs of ether but he would then take it away, so it just made my arms and legs feel numb [and] weird, but I felt everything — how much pain I was in,” Field said. “Then the situation turned darker. I realized that the technician was actually molesting me, so I had to figure out, how can I make my arms move to push him away? So it was just this absolute pit of shame. And then, when it was finished, they said, ‘Go go go go go!’, like the building was on fire. And they didn’t want me there, you know, it was illegal.”
“And these are the things that women are going through now — when they’re trying to get to another state, they don’t have the money, they don’t have the means, they don’t know where they’re going,” Field said.
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The broader implications of the current abortion debate extend beyond individual stories; they touch on issues of gender equality, public health, and social justice. Many activists stress that access to safe and legal abortion is essential for women's empowerment and autonomy, allowing individuals to make informed decisions about their futures.
As discussions continue, stories like Field's play an important role in fostering understanding and empathy, encouraging a more compassionate dialogue about reproductive rights.
