Final answer:
The major contributing factor to the poverty of the women portrayed in "$2.00 a day" was primarily systemic barriers and economic inequality, rather than a weak work ethic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major contributing factor to the poverty of the women portrayed in "$2.00 a day" was primarily systemic barriers and economic inequality, rather than a weak work ethic. The book highlights the experiences of low-wage workers, including single mothers, who struggle to make ends meet despite working multiple jobs, facing difficult working conditions, and receiving low wages. The portrayal of a weak work ethic in the narrative was not a significant factor in causing their economic hardships.