He always looks perfectly put together. He can be in a t-shirt and jeans or heading out to a black-tie event. His hair never has a bad day. His nails are clean and buffed. His clothes are perfectly pressed and exquisitely coordinated. He smells like flowers and spice. Is he gay? No, he's new metrosexual man.

As many of you know by now, term "metrosexual" was coined by a journalist (and gay man) named Mark Simpson, to describe a new kind of urban male who is straight, but in touch with his feminine side and not afraid to show it. Essentially, metrosexuals are guys who take on behaviors and show an interest in things that have traditionally belonged in female domain.

You may have a metrosexual brother, male friend or boyfriend (ex). These are guys you can shop till you drop with. They can discuss fashion, will notice your great new shoes, buy their grooming products from same places you do and have no qualms about having a manicure, pedicure or facial. You can actually TALK to these guys about something other than sports, cars and other traditionally male interests. These are guys you can take to opera, symphony and ballet. The perfect man, right? Depends on whom you talk to.

Let's step back a minute and look at where and how of existence of metrosexual man. Simply put, he is a by-product of feminism and changing roles and related expectations of women. As women have moved into (previously) male dominated environments and roles, it has caused a shift in male-female balance. Women are now active participants in industry, politics and professions- to name a few. However, as they have left their old jobs as homemakers and full-time domestic caregivers, they left a lot of empty space to be filled. Childcare providers and domestic cleaning industry could provide some of this. The problem was all "other" stuff women had always done.

Men were therefore called upon to contribute more to raising of children, housework, cooking, shopping, etc. Their sons were being exposed a new role model, a dad who took on jobs and chores that had traditionally belonged to mom. Young boys themselves were also being tapped to do housework and help with siblings, exposing them to a new way of being a male in our society. Women had become more independent and financially and professionally successful. Men had become more domestic and had to soften their style as they moved into more traditionally feminine roles.