Abstract: Surfactants are commonly employed to prepare aqueous polymer emulsions (latex emulsions) used for forming polymer coatings. Migration of surfactants following polymer coating deposition can be problematic, and poor surface adhesion may occur in some cases. Polymer emulsions leading to improved surface adhesion and other advantageous properties may comprise: an aqueous fluid, a plurality of core particles, a polymer layer formed around at least a majority of the plurality of core particles, and one or more surfactants. The polymer layer comprises a polymer formed from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The one or more surfactants comprise at least one reactive surfactant having an ethylenic unsaturation that is covalently incorporated within the polymer. The at least one reactive surfactant is absent from the core particles when the polymer layer is formed thereon. The polymer layer is substantially uniform in composition.