Why is Gabriel Attal’s white hair causing so much reaction on social media?

On the steps of the matignon, facing Elizabeth Bourne, whom he succeeds, Gabriel Attal is speaking. Hands are shaking a little. The sound too. At the age of 34, he became the youngest prime minister in the history of the Fifth Republic. But more than her speech, her gray hair caused a reaction. Indeed, many have noticed the gray hair of the man appointed as the Minister of Education in July 2023. On the social network. “Does he have white hair since yesterday?” For others, the specter of Laurent Wauquier’s case is not far away. “Attal who dyed his hair slightly gray to look less young,” wrote one netizen.

Indeed, a portrait that has published The world In 2017, it was revealed that the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council had developed a habit of dyeing his hair with salt and pepper to gain credibility. Should Gabriel Atal resort to this kind of subterfuge? “The Waukiese case has received a lot of criticism, so I doubt that Gabriel Atal would enjoy dyeing his hair gray,” explains media sociologist Jamil Dakhlia. Especially since the center of attention is on him there. Maybe he just didn’t have time to hide them.”

He knows that his wealth is at the same time his fragility, that is, his youth

Jamil Dakhlia, media sociologist

Indeed, for a few days all the eyes of a country were focused on who was expected to succeed Elizabeth Bourne. “He also realizes that his wealth is at the same time his fragility, that is, his youth in this environment,” continues the former president of the Sorbonne Nouvelle. It’s quite possible that he told himself that picking up a few gray hairs couldn’t do any harm to look bigger, more serious… Because he now had to impress his senior colleagues, the experienced ones like him.”

Not forgetting the ever-increasing demand for sincerity. Whether celebrities or politicians, the new generation expects more transparency and naturalness. We welcome you on social media no makeup women who embrace their gray hair or stretch marks. “Any politician is interested in playing the card of sincerity, because in the collective unconscious we associate them with liars. Even Edouard Philippe ended up playing the transparency card, talking about his alopecia, which must have been painful for him, but at the same time earned him some sympathy,” recalls Jamil Dakhlia.

We have always tried to decipher the appearance of politicians

Jamil Dakhlia, media sociologist

Because before the gray hair of Gabriel Attal, the whiteness of the beard, and then the fall of the eyebrows of Edouard Philippe had already caused many reactions. Inducing a politician to speak about the disease affecting him.

In a January 2022 report broadcast on France 2’s Sunday at 1:15 p.m., Gabriel Attal was already sarcastic about these first signs of aging: dogs, one year equals seven years”. Therefore, the minister did not turn to ashes overnight, leaving this legend to Marie-Antoinette, whose hair was said to have turned white the night before she was beheaded.

The emergence of politicians, a topic of discussion that is not new

The general public has long been interested in the physical appearance of politicians. Even before the advent of social networks. “We give visibility to these issues that may seem insignificant, futile, anecdotal. But all this shows that it is not for the public at least. It is the subject of discussion,” adds the media sociologist. “Political figure is not only speeches and actions to be carried out, it is also what we call ‘Ethos’, a way of meaningful representation. We have the impression that it is new, but in the end we have always tried to decipher the appearance of politicians,” explains Jamil Dakhlia, before citing the case of François Mitterrand, whose health reports were published falsely. “This begs the question, will this person be strong enough to represent us flawlessly, without fragility? Even a little fragility is not bad, because it humanizes, but then, when performing functions of high responsibility, one should not weaken.” Because the expert notes that there is a difference between a natural body and a political body. “The latter must be perfect. Well, in any case, adamant.” And if there is no concern about the new prime minister’s health, he has been warned, his hair has already been carefully studied on social networks.