Water-in-oil emulsions, compositions, and methods that include a vinyl polymer having a pKa of less than 4 that includes anionic group-containing side chains and alkyl-Y-containing side chains, wherein Y is O or NR, wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, and wherein the alkyl group of the alkyl-Y-containing side chain has at least 4 carbon atoms on average in a cyclic, branched-, or straight-chain configuration and optionally including one or more heteroatoms.