Pure Ambition and Cunning Women

As many of you have discussed, there are many striking similarities to be found between Edith Piaf and Coco Chanel. One that I found during my reading that I have not seen discussed yet is the role that powerful men played in propelling these women to their prominence and fame in their respective arts. As we discussed and saw in Coco Before Chanel, she was a bit cunning in the relationships she chose to make with certain men. It is highly likely that she would not have been able to have the career that she did if she did not have the support that she did from Boy and Balsan. Scott simply describes her as "ambitious" in his review of the film, but at what point does it cross the line to being cunning or devious when she was being quite tactful in her actions and her relationship with these men. From some perspectives, it could be argued that she perused a relationship with Balsan because she desired his status and money. She also was largely financially supported by Boy in her initial endeavors for her company. From a public perspective, she is usually viewed as a powerful woman her built an empire on her own. Does it diminish her accomplishments as an independent woman when one calls to attention the fact that men largely helped her get to that point? Similarly, Edith Piaf had numerous men that impacted her career. First, she was discovered by a powerful nightclub owner. Then she was helped by Raymond Asso, who she was also romantically involved with according to her Wikipedia biography. Although not as blatant as Chanel’s was, Piaf also utilized these men to help her career. When someone is positively impacted by a person’s wealth or power the way these women are, should one automatically assume that they are cunning, or could they simply be viewed as ambitious women who were determined to achieve what they wanted after being born with little means to achieve such status on their own?