Sally Field recently opened up about her dark past as a teenager. At 17, the actress was caught up in a dilemma of an unplanned pregnancy and due to the laws at that time in the United States, abortion was illegal and there was little or no support available for women to deal with unwanted pregnancy.
It’s been six decades since the harrowing experience and Field is grateful that times have changed and there have been debates about reproductive rights which have positively influenced the right of women over their bodies
Sally Fields was helpless during her teenage abortion experience
The 77-year-old engaged her fans in an Instagram post where she recalled her experience with the teenage pregnancy. Sally shared that she was able to get rid of the pregnancy with the help of her family doctor, who helped her secure an appointment with a doctor who specializes in abortion in Mexico.
On top of her worries as a teenager and the fear of being stigmatized due to being raised in a conservative era, Field had to go through excruciating pain to get rid of the pregnancy. She recalled that she wasn’t placed under any sedatives or anesthesia, so she was in pain all through, and to also make things worse, she was molested during the process.
Sally Field hopes that no other woman experiences that kind of trauma
Though Field has moved on with her life and has a successful career as a Hollywood actress, she shared that her traumatic teenage years memories of the incident still haunts her. She also added that hers is not an isolated case, as many women experienced the same treatment in that era.
The actress has now decided to channel her experience to advocate for the right of young women to have complete autonomy over their bodies and their choices, particularly when it comes to decisions about having children. Sally explained that this freedom should be respected without any interference from the government, and women should not be at the mercy of anyone or go through agonizing ordeals to get the help they need.