Cormann is 'pro-equal opportunity'

Malcolm Turnbull is one. Julie Bishop isn't. Mathias Cormann might be, but he won't use the 'f' word.

Coming out as a feminist is still taboo in conservative ranks, despite the prime minister cheerfully proclaiming he's one.

Senator Cormann twice in the space of half a day was given the opportunity to say he was a feminist.

The finance minister declined, preferring to tell Leigh Sales on the ABC's 7.30: "I am not very good at describing myself but I am very much pro-equal opportunity for women".

On Tuesday he told reporters in Canberra he preferred to leave it to everybody else to label these things as they wished.

Some may say that's the very definition of a feminist.