Sally Field has shared heart-wrenching details about the illegal abortion she got in Mexico when she was just 17.
The 77-year-old actress — who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in September — recounted the ‘horrific story’ in an Instagram post on Sunday.
‘I still feel very ashamed about it because I was raised in the 50s and it’s ingrained in me,’ the Mrs. Doubtfire star said on Instagram.
‘I’ve been so hesitant to do this, to tell my horrific story. 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.’
Sally Field has shared heart-wrenching details about the illegal abortion she got in Mexico when she was just 17-years-old
Field pictured in 1967 when she was about 20
She explained that at the time she had ‘no choices, family support or finances’.
‘I graduated high school but no one ever said, ‘How about college?’ Nothing. I didn’t know what I was gonna be.
‘And then I found out I was pregnant.’
She said a family doctor and his wife, who were friends of the family, drove her and her mother in their brand-new Cadillac, to Tijuana, Mexico.
In harrowing detail, she went on to say, ‘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.’
Sally described the abortion, which took place before the now-overturned Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, as ‘beyond hideous and life-altering.’
The procedure was performed with ‘no anesthetic’ with just 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 weird, but I felt everything — how much pain I was in.’
To make matters worse, Field realized that the technician was actually molesting her, 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. They didn’t want me there — you know, it was illegal.’
The 77-year-old actress – who endorsed presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in September – recounted the ‘horrific story’ in an Instagram post on Sunday
Engaging her audience, the Mrs. Doubtfire star began a video stating, ‘I still feel very ashamed about [my abortion] because I was raised in the 50s and it’s ingrained in me’
Field credited the family physician for his ‘generosity’ and ‘bravery’ in helping her, as she explained ‘he would’ve lost his license if anyone had found out.’
In her caption she said that reproductive rights is ‘one of the reasons why so many of us are supporting 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!’
In conclusion, she wrote: ‘So here is my story. I’d be honored if you’d tell me yours, if you can.’
Field pictured in 2023
Field returned to social media weeks ago when Harris, 59, officially accepted the 2024 presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention.
She wrote online at the time, ‘I’ve not been on social media. Not since it became public toilet paper for our former crook of a President. But ‘hope is making a comeback.’ So here I am. This is me.’
In a follow-up post, she continued to encourage her followers to get involved in the election.
‘Hope is here. Right in the room with me and my 18-year-old newly registered to vote grandson. I’m, screaming from the highest mountain top I can find. Vote for our country, our children and grandchildren. Vote for the earth and women and human rights. Vote for democracy. Vote for @kamalaharris and @timwalz. Please dear God,’ the caption read.