The present invention relates to an aqueous polymer dispersion whose dispersed addition polymer P comprises, copolymerized in free-radically polymerized form, at least one polar monomer having a water solubility of greater than 50 g/liter (measured at 20° C.), and obtainable by free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization, the polar monomer being metered to the reaction mixture during the polymerization process at a variable, i.e., nonconstant rate, for example in the sense of a rate gradient. The present invention further relates to processes for preparing these aqueous polymer dispersions, to their use as binders and/or in coatings, and also to coatings comprising the polymer dispersion of the invention.