Question about the movie :Raise the Red Lantern ???

I had sympathy for all of them. They were trapped in a life were the only potential for success or happiness was to compete for the attention of one man (or to risk the danger of looking for happiness outside of the house.) As a result, all of them retreated to less than admirable techniques to claw for kindof life or break in the monotany: dishonesty, infidelity, informing on each other, etc. But, they had to turn on each other because there wasn't any other outlet.