SINGLE fathers face discrimination and are stereotyped as "incompetent" at caring for children, a WA study has found.

The study of single parents by Edith Cowan University lecturer Bronwyn Harman found single fathers came up against more stigma than single mothers.

"Single fathers are seen much more negatively than single mothers and there are more hurdles for fathers," Dr Harman said. "The main thing many men reported hearing from people is that they can't parent children as well as mothers can.

"They found negative attitudes everywhere government agencies, the Education Department and schools, the Family Court system and just society in general."

Dr Harman said all the single fathers surveyed reported unfair assumptions were made about their parenting skills resulting in them not being able to spend as much time with their children or participate as fully in their children's lives.

Many men believed they did not receive a fair custody arrangement in Family Court decisions because it was assumed that mothers were better and more natural parents.

"Single fathers believed they were experiencing more difficulties than single mothers, but all the attention seemed to be on mothers," Dr Harman said.

"They had difficulties such as getting their child's school to inform them of certain things because it was sometimes assumed that only the mothers needed to know. Both as a society and in official (processes), we need to consider fathers on an equal footing as mothers and give them the same rights and opportunities."

Dr Harman said women also experienced unfair assumptions in regards to their reason for being a single mother.

"There is the stereotype that single mothers are generally low income, uneducated and unemployed, and that they're having children for money, but that's not true," she said.

To contact the reporter: cannl@pst.newsltd.com.au