Past research has found that women who are mothers and the primary caregiver tend to lose money per child while men tend to gain money as the typical bread earning father. But in most cases the thought comes to mind that these parents are married.

New University of Arizona research finds that single parents do not get the “motherhood penalty” or the “fatherhood premium.”

When talking about single mothers, they are perceived as more focused breadwinners, and not perceived as less competent or committed as single childless women.

Single fathers are perceived as more focused on their children as compared to married fathers, which eliminates the fatherhood premium.

The research, conducted by UA sociology doctoral student Jurgita Abromaviciute, is being presented this week at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.