History
The title comes from the French term au pair, meaning "on a par" or "equal to", indicating that the relationship is intended to be one of equals: the au pair is intended to become a member of the family, albeit a temporary one, rather than a traditional domestic worker.
Although it is not as simple to acquire au pair status as it was in 1840, the expression was used to indicate economic parity between two things such as the home and the job (economical parity). The expression au pair was used in this sense in 1840 by Balzac ( {...} After two years, she was au pair, if she earned nothing, her parents did not have to pay for her home and her food (BALZAC, Pierrette, 1840, p.17). )
Nowadays, the au pair is more seen as a search for a relationship where au pair is intended to become a member of the family, albeit a temporary one, rather than a traditional domestic worker (social/right parity).
Read more about this topic: Au Pair
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