In the Returned, women and femininity are shown and represented in many different ways using a range of different characters. Although women are seen in the show to be vulnerable to abuse and attacks, for example as Julie and Lucy where in the underpass and Lena when it is discovered she was pushed by her father Jerome, the show doesn't show this in a positive light but in a negative one and that these actions are wrong. The show has characters which both fill and don't fit into traditional gender roles.
Van Zoonen can be applied to the Returned with Claire, the mother of Lena and Camille who is one of the female characters which fits with what you would typically expect of a women as she is motherly and is rarely seen out of the domestic setting with her mostly seen at home and looking after Camille. This juxtaposes with her daughter Lena who is rarely seen at home and is seen out and about with friends, mainly at the Lake Pub.
Julie is an interesting character due to her being single and also in employment and it is suggested that she has no interest in being a mother with her wanting to live a simple and quiet private life after the events of her attack. However, the fact that she ends up acting as a carer and motherly figure to Victor suggests that the show is saying that is natural instincts for women to fill this role. Also, the fact that Julie is also gay may be a message to the audience to show that gay people are just as capable of parenting as straight people and may be an argument in favour of adoption by same-sex couples.
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