In a powerful video posted to Instagram, Oscar-winning actress Sally Field opened up about her traumatic experience of having an illegal abortion in the 1960s, urging voters to support Kamala Harris for president and to advocate for reproductive rights across the nation.
At just 17 years old, Field faced an unplanned pregnancy without much family support or financial means. A family friend who was a doctor took her from Southern California to Tijuana, Mexico, for the procedure. Field vividly described the harrowing scene: they parked on a “really scrungy-looking street,” and the doctor handed her an envelope of cash, instructing her to enter a building for the abortion.
“It was beyond hideous and, you know, life-altering,” she recalled. The experience was marked by extreme discomfort, as she was given minimal anesthesia—just a few puffs of ether that only numbed her limbs while she felt the full extent of the pain. Tragically, during the procedure, she realized that a technician was molesting her, which forced her to find a way to push him away while in such a vulnerable state.
Field described the overwhelming sense of shame and urgency that followed. After the procedure, she was hurriedly told to leave, as if the place were on fire, underscoring the fear and stigma surrounding illegal abortions at the time. “I’m sure my doctor’s generosity and bravery were significant,” she reflected, recognizing the risks he faced, including the potential loss of his medical license.
Field’s candid account not only highlights the dangers women faced before the legalization of abortion but also serves as a call to action for protecting reproductive rights today.
After returning home from her harrowing experience, Sally Field experienced what she describes as something “glorious.” “Fate, or whatever you believe, reached in, and a few months after that, I began auditions.” With no agent and only high school productions under her belt, she soon landed a life-changing role as Gidget, the iconic California surfer girl in the popular TV series.
Reflecting on her newfound success, Field said, “I was the quintessential all-American girl next door.” However, she acknowledges the stark contrast between her public persona and the private struggles many women, including herself, faced during that era. In her memoir, In Pieces, she emphasizes that countless young women of her generation were navigating similar traumatic experiences, a reality that resonates even today, as many states have enacted strict abortion bans following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
In her video introduction, Field candidly shares her hesitations about recounting her “horrific story.” She recalls a time when access to contraception was extremely limited, available primarily to married women. Yet, she feels compelled to speak out, not only for herself but for the countless women who have endured similar hardships. “I believe, like me, they must want to fight for their grandchildren and all the young women of this country,” she says, highlighting the urgency of advocating for reproductive rights in the face of ongoing challenges.
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