Why Single Dads Receive Greater Praise Than Single Moms

Not all single parents are created (or treated) equally. Here's why.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | February 04, 2025

Being a single parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world, regardless of gender. Research from the Pew Research Center shows that the rate of single father households has grown significantly since the 1960s, and the world's perception of a father's role within the household is evolving.

Society no longer places the sole responsibility of providing for the family entirely on men, and their role as equal caregivers is increasingly recognized. As a result, more fathers are stepping into the role of single parenthood when their co-parent is no longer present or willing to contribute to childcare.

Today, both single moms and dads juggle work, parenting and personal challenges, often with limited support and endless responsibilities. Yet, society doesn't always view them through the same lens. Have you ever noticed how single dads are often celebrated as "heroes" for doing what single moms are expected to do every day without the same fanfare?

This difference isn't just a passing observation—it reflects deeper sociocultural norms and biases that shape how we view parenthood.

Here are three reasons why single dads are often viewed more positively than single moms, according to research.

1. The Intensive Mothering Problem

As much as we've come a long way in our view of parenting, there are still some very obvious differences between what is expected from a mother and what is expected from a father, with mothers facing much more scrutiny.

The term "intensive mothering," coined by Sharon Hays in the 1996 book The Cultural Contradictions of Motherhood, highlights this difference. Intensive mothering is a cultural ideology that emphasizes a child-centered, time-intensive and emotionally absorbing approach to parenting, where mothers are expected to devote extraordinary amounts of time, energy and resources to their children's well-being and development.

It's the belief that mothers are expected to prioritize their children above all else, often at the expense of their own needs. This belief disproportionately places the burden of child-rearing on women and often implies that "good" mothering requires self-sacrifice and perfection.

Society tends to expect mothers—even single moms juggling two jobs just to make ends meet—to maintain an "intensive mothering" level of parenting without question.

2. Money Helps When It Comes To Parenting

Most parents would agree that raising children tends to be expensive. Research shows that raising a child from birth to the age of 18 can cost roughly $233,610. As kids grow older, their needs and wants often become more expensive, adding extra strain to a household budget.

The challenge is even greater in a country where the gender pay gap remains significant. For single mothers, this means running a single-income household can be far more economically demanding compared to their male counterparts.

Research published in the Journal of Divorce & Remarriage states that "single fathers had better resources than single mothers. Single mothers have less education, less prestigious jobs, lower incomes and more economic strain than other parents."

While this does not imply that single fathers do not have their work cut out for them, the economic disparities make raising a child by themselves more complicated for women.

The economic challenges faced by single moms don't just affect their finances—they also shape how society perceives them. Single fathers, particularly those who are financially stable, are often praised for stepping up, with many people assuming they're doing more than their fair share.

In contrast, single mothers, who may struggle to meet the same economic expectations, are often unfairly criticized for not "having it all together," even when they're giving everything they have to their children.

While single dads certainly deserve recognition for their efforts, it's crucial to recognize that single moms often face a different set of challenges that stem from structural inequalities, not personal failings. By understanding these disparities, we can begin to challenge the narratives that unfairly celebrate one group while holding the other to unattainable standards.

3. The Double Standard Of Societal Expectations

You only have to take a look at social media to see that people are not very kind to single mothers. For instance, in many cultures, being an unwed mother comes with the cumbersome burden of societal disdain.

Single mothers are often criticized with remarks such as "You should have known better than to have a baby without commitment." Many still view single motherhood as a consequence of poor decision-making on the woman's part, which often leads to a lack of support or empathy.

The same does not always apply to single fathers. In the eyes of the public, single fathers are often the result of tragic circumstances or a woman who "couldn't be bothered to be a mother."

In a 2019 study, single fathers were asked, "What challenges did you face in raising a child that single mothers might not encounter?" Many respondents expressed frustration with the assumption that they only cared for their child because the mother was unavailable, rather than being recognized as the best parent for the role.

This attitude undermines both single mothers and single fathers. It pushes the false perception that children need their mothers more and that fathers are incapable of being the sole caregivers. It also creates a narrative that single mothers are irresponsible, while single fathers are victims.

Parenting is an immense responsibility, and navigating it alone can feel overwhelming, even at the best of times. Instead of debating which gender does it better, we should shift our focus to creating a culture that uplifts all single parents and confronts the biases that unfairly target single mothers. After all, every single parent deserves to be seen for their love and resilience, not weighed down by the burden of societal judgment.

Are you feeling burnt out from being a single parent? Take this science-backed test to find out: Parental Burnout Assessment

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.