After sharing her heartbreaking abortion story, Sally Field sparked a viral response online, with women coming forward using the hashtag #wewontgoback to highlight the importance of protecting reproductive rights in the United States.
The 77-year-old actress, who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in September, shared the “horrible story” in an Instagram post on Sunday, recounting her illegal abortion in Mexico when she was just 17 years old.
Field also admitted that the doctor who performed the procedure sexually abused her and that she was not given pain medication.
Her story resonated with many people, as illegal abortion is a reality for many young women today who live in states that have restricted access to abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.
Field received a wave of support after sharing her story, where she emphasized the importance of voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the upcoming election and supporting ballot initiatives that protect reproductive freedom.
Sally Field has shared heartbreaking details about the illegal abortion she had in Mexico when she was just 17 years old.
‘Wow, this is hard to watch. It’s hard to know. But it’s reality,’ commented one user, adding the hashtag #WeWontGoBack.
“It’s very brave of you to share this with us, but this is exactly what it is like for women in America,” another noted.
‘I’m so grateful to @sallyfield for sharing her story. “A lot of women can relate in some way,” another agreed, using the same hashtag.
‘I didn’t know this about Sally Field, but I’m so glad she shared it. #WeWontGoBack,” wrote another.
The Mrs Doubtfire actress shared her emotional story in a video posted to Instagram, admitting that she “still” feels very embarrassed about it.
“Because I grew up in the ’50s and that’s ingrained in me,” the actress said in the video posted online.
“I have been very hesitant to do this, to tell my horrible story. It was at a time even worse than now. A time when contraceptives were not available and only if you were married.
‘But I feel like a lot of women of my generation went through similar traumatic events, and I feel stronger when I think about them. I think that, like me, they must want to fight for their grandchildren and for all the young women in this country.’
The Mrs Doubtfire actress shared her emotional story in a video posted to Instagram, admitting that she “still” feels very embarrassed about it.
Field received a wave of support after sharing her story, where she emphasized the importance of voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the upcoming election.
Her story resonated with many people, as illegal abortion is a reality for many young women today who live in states that have restricted access to abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.
He explained that at the time he had “no options, no family support, no finances.”
‘I graduated high school but no one ever said, ‘How was college?’ Nothing. I didn’t know what it was going to be.
“And then I found out I was pregnant.”
She said a family doctor and his wife, who were family friends, took her and her mother in their new Cadillac to Tijuana, Mexico.
In heartbreaking detail, he went on to say: ‘We parked on a street that looks really miserable. It was scary and he parked about three blocks away and said, ‘Do you see that building down there?’
“And he gave me an envelope with cash and I was to go into that building and give them the cash and then come back with it.”
Sally described the abortion, which took place before the now-overturned Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, as “beyond frightening and life-altering.”
The procedure was performed “without anesthesia” and only a “technician gave me a few puffs of ether, but then he took it away, so my arms and legs went strangely numb, but I felt everything: how much pain I felt.” I was in.’
Field said she then realized the technician was actually abusing her, recalling, “So I had to figure out how I could 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, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!’ as if the building was on fire. They didn’t want me there… you know, it was illegal.
Field credited the family doctor for his “generosity” and “bravery” in helping her, explaining that she “would have lost her license if anyone had found out.”
In her caption, she said reproductive rights are “one of the reasons so many of us support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”
‘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!’
Concluding, he wrote: ‘So here is my story. I would be honored if you could tell me yours, if you can.
