Sally Field Shares Her Traumatic Illegal Abortion Experience to Rally Support for Kamala Harris

In a heartfelt video posted on Instagram, Oscar-winning actress Sally Field recounted the distressing details of her illegal abortion in 1964, an experience she described as “hideous” and “traumatic.” Field, who previously shared her story in her 2018 memoir *In Pieces*, is now using her platform to urge voters to support Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election.

Reflecting on her experiences, Field stated in her video caption, “I’ve been so hesitant to do this, to tell my horrific story. It was during a time even worse than now. Contraception was not readily available, and only if you were married. I feel that many women of my generation went through similar, traumatic events, and it strengthens me to think of them. Like me, they want to fight for their grandchildren and the young women of this country.”

Field emphasized the importance of the upcoming election, particularly highlighting it as a pivotal moment for reproductive rights. “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!!” she urged.

In the video, she detailed the harrowing circumstances surrounding her abortion. Field described how her family doctor took her to Tijuana, Mexico, where the procedure was performed. “We parked on a really scroungy-looking street, it was scary. He gave me an envelope with cash and told me to walk into that building and hand it over,” she recalled, the memory clearly still haunting her decades later.

Field further revealed that she received no anesthetic during the procedure, only a few puffs of ether that provided little relief from the pain. Tragically, she recounted a disturbing incident of sexual assault that occurred during the abortion, adding, “It was just this absolute pit of shame.”

As she delved into her past, Field acknowledged that she was not yet a well-known actress at the time of her abortion, soon after landing her breakout role in the sitcom *Gidget*. The contrast between her public persona as “the quintessential, all-American girl next door” and the deep shame she felt regarding her experience was starkly apparent.

“This is what women are going through now,” she expressed, bringing attention to the struggles many face in accessing reproductive health services amidst changing laws. “How can we go back to that and inflict this kind of pain and distress on our daughters and young women, stripping them of their rights to make personal choices about their own health?”

Field's support for Kamala Harris has been clear since the vice president's campaign launch in August, following Joe Biden stepping down from the ticket. She extolled Biden as a heroic figure, expressing her gratitude for his service, and declared hers as a staunch endorsement of Harris: “As a working woman, a mother, and grandmother to a diverse group, I support the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris with my whole heart.”

For those compelled by Field's story and the urgent message about reproductive rights, she urges everyone to stay informed and active in the political arena. Every vote counts as the fight for women's rights continues.