Final answer:
The debate among 1980s feminists regarding sexual liberation was characterized by discussions on sex positivity, lesbian feminism, and sexual autonomy against a backdrop of divergent feminist ideologies and a conservative social climate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The debate among feminists of the 1980s surrounding the kind of sexual liberation feminists should want is best described by terms such as sex positivity, lesbian feminism, and diverging opinions on the expression of sexual autonomy.
In the 1980s, the feminist movement was marked by significant internal debates about the direction and nature of sexual liberation. Some feminists advocated for a more traditional view of sexual expression within feminist circles, while others, such as the Lesbian Feminist Movement prominently established in 1970 with the Radicalesbians and Lavender Menace movements, emphasized the right of women to define their own sexuality and lifestyle free from patriarchal norms.
By the early 1990s, with the rise of third-wave feminism, there was a noticeable shift towards challenging patriarchal norms and advocating for a more fluid conception of gender and a sex-positive approach as a means for women to assert sexual autonomy. This contrasted the more conservative climate of the 1980s that somewhat stigmatized the feminist label and questioned the continued need for the feminist movement.