The present invention relates to a polymer obtained by radical polymerization of a mixture of monomers comprising: at least one anionic monomer (a) having a polymerizable vinyl function； at least one non-ionic hydrophobic monomer (b) having a polymerizable vinyl function； and one or more crosslinking monomer(s) (c) including at least one compound of formula (I) in which R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, n is zero or an integer from 1 to 30, and R1 is a linear or branched C1-C20 alkylene group. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation thereof by radical polymerization, to an aqueous composition comprising same, to the use thereof as a thickener and suspending agent and also to the use of a monomer of formula (I) for synthesizing a polymer.
