CAPTAIN HOOK’S PROMOTION OF RAPE CULTURE
First of all, what is rape culture? One simple google search answers this question:
- Rape culture is a theoretical concept (a qualitative theory) in which rape is pervasive and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality.
Once Upon A Time uses a popular ship called Captain Swan to promote rape culture. Let me explain this by starting with the obvious.
Now, this line raised a lot of controversy. A lot of fans of Hook and Captain Swan said that this line was just him flirting. But let me explain why this line was a line that implied rape.
About a few days after they met, Hook was sparring with Emma. He was over her, pinning her down. This line was delivered not with sexual undertones, but with power undertones – essentially, he was delivering the idea that when he “jabs” her with his “sword”, it’ll hurt, and he’ll be the one in power. This line has triggered many fans, and it’s extremely problematic in itself. In this moment, Hook was not thinking about sex – he was thinking about winning the fight, gaining power over Emma.
Let’s look at Emma’s expression.
There’s no arousal, there’s no challenge. There’s disapproval, disbelief, and maybe even a hint of fear in her expression.
That line was implying rape. Okay, simple. I guess that could be excused if Hook had apologized and they’d moved on, right?
However, he didn’t, and they didn’t. In fact, the writers continued to promote this line as a great line – in fact, the actor who plays Hook has even said it’s his “favourite line”. Ridiculous.
That’s only one example of many. The entirety of Captain Hook and Emma Swan’s relationship rests on Hook relentlessly pursuing Emma Swan even after she obviously showed disinterest. No, she was not pushing him away because she was scared of love. And no, this is not simply fandom interpretation. Hook repeatedly touches Emma against her will (which is, in the most simple terms, molestation), one time even GRABBING her as she struggles to escape, holding her there to make a point and not letting go until he was satisfied. This is not the kind of man you want young women looking up to.
Sadly, Emma does give in eventually. By making Captain Swan canon, the writers are basically saying that pursuing a woman after they say no is perfectly fine, because they’ll say yes eventually! Insisting that you’ll “win their heart” (a woman is not a prize to be won, Killian Jones) eventually even when she says no is fine, because it’s “romantic”.
(Let’s not forget the fact that Hook has admitted to using alcohol to get women drunk in order to sleep with them.)
Here’s a great example of what I’m talking about in relation to real life. To take a section from what is being said in this blog post;
They are always around, always at your elbow, always lurking. They treat your lack of interest as an obstacle to be overcome. Hook declared he would win her. A woman is not an object to be won. A woman is a person who chooses you if, and only if, she so desires.
They presume to tell you why you are not interested. It is often something about you not being ready for a good man, but they will be there when you are. In fact, they will help you get ready. For example, Emma’s broken heart was not a broken heart. It was evidence of her ability to care for him. Walsh was not yet another man who betrayed Emma. He was an obstacle in the way of Hook’s affections. Neal was not the father of her son. He was the competition. You see how Emma is being robbed of her personhood here? Nothing in her life was about her. It was all just obstacles in Hook’s way.
They don’t stop. They do not go away. They monitor and attempt to control every aspect of your life, and god help you on the day that you decide enough is enough. Because that man has made a significant investment in you and he expects to receive his returns.
Here’s another excerpt from the following blog post;
This is profoundly disappointing, particularly from a show that was premised on rethinking fairytales. This isn’t rethinking. It’s more of the same old patriarchy, and its 2014.
You thought 50 Shades Of Grey’s main character was bad? Captain Hook is essentially a teenager-friendly version of him. He is a dangerous character to allow young, impressionable teenagers to fall in love with.
He might even be worse than Edward Cullen.
CAPTAIN HOOK’S “HERO” ARC
Captain Hook is, put simply, a pirate. Adam and Eddy seem to think that him being a pirate means that they can excuse any of his horrible actions; including molestation, assault, attempted murder, rape, sexism, and so the list goes on. Instead of expressing that these are PROBLEMATIC, the writers PROMOTE it.
Let’s have some examples.
a) Captain Hook is a rapist/molester.
- Has admitted to getting women drunk in order to sleep with them. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to get me drunk, which is usually my tactic.”
- Threatens to rape Emma when he pins her own and says he’d use his manhood as a weapon against her. “When I jab you with my sword, you’ll feel it.”
- Repeatedly touches Emma Swan against her will.
- Grabs Emma Swan and holds her while she’s struggling to get away.
- Insinuated that Milah would be a sex slave to his crew.
- Forces a kiss on Emma Swan and belittled her charge of sexual assault.
b) Captain Hook is sexist.
- Believes women need to be “earned” (insists he has to “win” Emma’s heart) or “bought” (trades Emma’s love for his ship).
- Is constantly violent towards women and never apologizes for it.
- Ripped Aurora’s heart out and literally controlled her as though she was a puppet and never apologized for it.
- Numerous unwanted advances/comments.
- Frequently gained the sympathy of the girl he liked by lying by omission.
- Does not believe women can save themselves. “You deprived me of a dashing rescue.”
- Believes that being a good man means that he is owed sex. Promoted through the writing of Emma Swan (when Hook saves Emma’s father, Emma repays him by making out with him).
c) Captain Hook is an unapologetic murderer/attempted murderer.
- He tries to kill Belle by shooting her with a gun and erasing her memory. He never apologizes to her and the writers write Belle in a negative light when she refuses to forgive him.
- Repeatedly tries to kill Emma Swan then “falls in love” with her.
- Rips Aurora’s heart out then forgets she existed and never apologizes to Aurora or to Emma Swan, despite Emma being friends with her.
Captain Hook’s “hero” arc is nonexistent because all of this negative qualities, unforgivable negative qualities, are portrayed simply as part of his character. Not even are they said to be character flaws – he is still written as likable despite the facts. He does not apologize or show remorse for any of his actions.
Essentially, “hero” Hook is written the exact same as “villain” Hook, with absolutely no character development at all. The only difference? He’s in love with Emma Swan. Perhaps Killian Jones can open his heart, but he can’t seem to change as a person.
this is how a dream comes true; 
