Sally Field, famous for her roles in Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump, Mrs. Doubtfire, and as “Aunt May” in The Amazing Spider-Man series, recently opened up on her Instagram that in 1964, at the age of 17, she had an abortion. At the time, abortion was still illegal in the United States, and her doctor, a friend of the family, drove her to Tijuana to a building on a “scroungy-looking street” so she could terminate her pregnancy.
She recalls the experience being “beyond hideous and life-altering,” that she “had no anesthetic” during the procedure and “felt everything.” Sally details how the technician was giving her “puffs of ether” which made her arms and legs feel numb. She realized he was molesting her, but she didn’t have the strength to push him away. Right after the procedure, they urged her to leave.
This story feels very similar to that of our CEO, Diane Ferraro’s mother, who went to Mexico after discovering she was pregnant, but didn’t proceed with the abortion. If she had, Diane would not be here today.
Young Women Don’t Need Abortion, They Need Proper Healthcare
Sally Field’s abortion story was a blatant effort to encourage a vote for Harris-Walz in the upcoming election. Ultimately urging her audience that “We can’t go back!” But it begs the question: go back to what? Abortions that are illegal and done in heinous manners? Sally Field said it herself, the experience was painful and traumatic. However, many women have come forth even in today’s landscape where abortion is still legal in most states (even up to 40 weeks)1, claiming that the abortion procedure was no less traumatic. Women may be able get abortions “legally,” but the legality of it doesn’t eliminate its impact, its harm.
In her video2, Sally Field goes on to say this: “And it’s beyond how you can go back to that and do that to our little girls and our young women, and not have respect and regard for their health and their own decisions about whether they feel they’re able to give birth to a child at that time.”
If we’re to truly look at how we can respect a woman’s health and her decisions, then we would help her make an informed decision. We would tell her all her options so that she actually has a choice in the matter. We wouldn’t push her automatically to an abortion, which is what places like Planned Parenthood do. Should a woman or young girl not want an abortion, what “reproductive freedom” is in place for her then? Rarely are you seeing ways in which healthcare systems are empowering young women who choose motherhood. You don’t hear stories of how they support girls who carry out their pregnancies.
Also read: Pro-Life Groups Who Help Girls Become Ready For Motherhood
You’re Right, Sally, We Can’t Go Back––We Have to Go Forward
The abortion issue has been at the forefront of political campaigns, especially as we near the election. We know that Kamala Harris has an extreme stance on abortion and has partnered with several abortion rights groups to further her campaign. Many are coining this coming November as “Roe-vember,” since it is clear that should the vote lean in favor of Harris-Walz, there will be an immediate motion to re-overturn Roe v Wade, legalizing abortion on a federal level. Meaning that all states will have to release any abortion bans that have been implemented and abortion centers will reopen instantaneously.
Despite Sally Field’s remarks of “going back” to what she thinks is an obsolete system wherein women won’t have access to abortion, Save the Storks believes that this could actually be the way forward. We believe women deserve real choice. Women deserve to have healthcare providers and systems that truly support her health–physically and emotionally.
The bottomline is this: Whether it’s 1964 or 2024, abortions are not safe.
Regardless if abortion is accessible and legal or not, an abortion deliberately ends the life of a person and can harm a woman’s health, in the short and long term. So what is the way forward?
It’s creating Equal Access to MotherhoodSM. It’s bringing true healthcare to women everywhere. Healthcare that doesn’t insist abortion is the only way. Healthcare that–– should a woman decide to get an abortion–– will provide post-abortive therapy. The reason abortion providers don’t offer these services is because of the false undertone that abortion isn’t a regretful experience. We know that simply isn’t true, and we’ve seen and heard countless times how much it is.
Ironically, Sally Field is the Best Movie Mom
When beloved celebrities come out with their abortion stories, it is heartbreaking. Not because of any political agenda that may be attached to the story, but because we wish someone told Sally, “you deserve better.” It’s shocking to hear that on their way to Mexico, Sally’s mother was there, too. If only she had spoken up and said, “Let’s drive back. Sally may be young, but she can do this. We’ll support her.”
Sally Field has played the role of “mom” in so many amazing films. In fact, when you hear “Sally Field” you automatically picture her with the warmest smile telling Forrest just how special and loved he is. We bet there are days when Sally thinks what if? What if I hadn’t had the abortion? If I didn’t do it, my child would still be alive today. What if my career would have happened the way it did not because I was childless, but because I was simply talented?
To Sally: You Deserved Better
Pregnancy and motherhood don’t stop women from becoming all they were destined to be. We’ve seen time and time again how many celebrities or powerful figures were already moms before they excelled in their careers or rose in prominence. Motherhood doesn’t negate success. And we need to stop that narrative once and for all.
You can be a mother and whatever you dream of being, too.
To Sally: we’re sorry you had such a traumatic experience when you were so young. Truthfully, the moral of your story could have been this: Girls, an abortion is not going to solve things. It is not what “has to be done” in order to live the rest of your life. Something that will withhold you from being successful. You’re more than capable. You’re strong. You deserve better.
