In the world we live in today, being different from the people around us or an outcast to
society, you will be isolated and viewed with fear because you don’t have the characteristics to
what society considers normal. People with disabilities and incapabilities are looked down upon
and are treated like they’re less than human. The society we are apart of has accustomed people
to perceive individuals with disabilities as monsters that prefer to be dead than alive. It is awful
that we encourage this awful behavior of scapegoating people with disabilities, instead of
learning their difficulties and understanding them as a person first, not treating them like animals and monsters.
Matthew Genser, who is the protagonist of the short film called “The Barber of Augusta”
is a 30-year old man who lives with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) along
with conduct disorder, and personality since he was a child. He explains how difficult it has been
for him to have a place in our society because he’s different. His admiration and what makes him
feel at ease is his favorite superheroes and providing haircuts. Matthew dresses up as his favorite
heroes and gives haircuts to his clients. He loves to provide free haircuts to the homeless
especially because he feels like they are the most relatable to him while other people claim it’s
for attention, meanwhile he does agree with the statement that it is for attention because he has
battled for people to recognize him his whole life. “A lot of people did not want him around, so it
was hard for him, it was really really hard for Matthew to grow and develop in a society where
kids like him are not accepted” (Mrs.Genser). Being treated like a monster in isolation since a
child can deprive a kid from a growing experience that they would never get to have and also can
mentally affect a person as they get older. “I felt like a monster for a long time not because of
how my parents treated me but because of how I felt about myself” (Genser). Having to disown
yourself because of others not understanding how you feel is humiliating.
