In what way is the novel's attitude towards women demeaning?

The attitude toward women in the novel is sexist and demeaning, with the roles of women limited to secretary and mistress. Spade feels no sense of remorse or guilt for his inappropriate behavior and feels that the women are to serve him until their usefulness has run its course. The language Spade uses when conversing with the women is curt and derogatory, yet the women are happy to oblige him.