It found that the popular image of men as insensitive macho slobs is a relic of the past.

The report coined a new term, 'metrosexuals,' defined as straight men who know and care about fashion, food, and good grooming, and don't care who knows it.

The term caught like wildfire. The New York Times even wrote an in-depth article about New York metrosexuals, and advertising on newspapers for men's clothes now say, 'we cater to metrosexuals.'

So, is the 'metrosexual' the new "Renaissance Man"? Is 'metrosexual' just a new buzzword, or has men really changed? Is he the 21st century man?

According to the study, men's new attitude was a direct result of the feminist movement.

"The metrosexual represents the tipping point of a shift that parallels the process -- though not the passion or the politicization -- of the women's movement," says Marian Salzman, Chief Strategy Officer at Euro RSCG Worldwide and one of the architects of the study.

"In the 1900s, women had to struggle to win parity with men. In this new century, men -- still the dominant gender -- are finding the courage to explore the female domain without fear of losing their status as 'real' men. As the survey results show, more and more men are willing to take that risk."

So what exactly is going on? When did men start feeling more comfortable expressing their "feminine" sides?

The 'seeds' of change started during the late 1970s and early 1980s when commentators observed the rise of the "new man" -- in touch with his feelings and unashamed of it.

But what trend analysts at Euro RSCG are seeing -- and what has been confirmed by this study -- is the emergence of a segment of men who have embraced customs and attitudes once deemed the province of women.

These men, dubbed metrosexuals, aren't wimps or effeminate in any way. They're confident in their masculinity and in their sense of self.

They tend to be concentrated in and around big cities (hence the term "metro"), but even those outside metropolitan areas are marked by a certain degree of urbanity or sophistication.

They're knowledgeable about clothes and -- unlike the stereotype of the American male -- they enjoy shopping for them. They like to look and feel good.

Are they gay? Mostly not, but they are comfortable being around people of other sexualities.

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