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Question: 
I know women when on their periods are not allowed to touch the Koran or do any Namaaz, but what I want to know is why that is and if the reason is bescause of impurity is that not sexist?

Response:
As far as I know, menstruating women are permitted to read and touch the Quran.

Although many scholars have prohibited menstruating women and people in a state of sexual defilement (junub) from reciting the Quran or touching it, Imam al Bukhari took the position that there was no authentic evidence to support such a position and that it was in fact permitted.

Ibrahim an Nakha'ee said, "There is no harm in menstruating woman reciting a Quranic verse".
(It was also the opinion of Imam Malik [Fath al Baree, vol.1, p. 305] )

Ibn Abbas ruled that there was no harm if a person who was ‘junub’ recited the Quran.

Um Ateeyah (raa) reported that they were instructed to let the menstruating women come out for the Eids and say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the greatest).

Imam al Bukhari quoted this anecdote to show that since menstruating women were instructed to mention Allah's names and his attributes, they should also be allowed to read the Quran, in which Allah's names and attributes are also mentioned.

Aisha (raa) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) once told me to get his mat from the masjid and I said, " I am menstruating!" He replied, "Your menses is not on your hands."
(Sunan Abu Dawood, vol. 1, p. 65 & Sahih Muslim, vol. 1, p. 175. no. 587)
The whole body is not impure during menstruation.  Menstruating women are allowed to enter the mosque.

Aisha (raa) said: We set out with the sole intention of performing Hajj and when we reached Sarif (a place six miles outside of Makkah), my menses began. The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to me while I was crying and asked, " What is the matter with you? Has your menses started?" I replied, "Yes." He said, "This is something which Allah has destined for the daughters of Adam. So do all the rites that the pilgrims do, except Tawaaf.
( Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.1, pp. 177-8, no. 293 & Sahih Muslim, vol.2 , p.607, no.2791)
All Hajj rites are performed with the mention of Allah’s name and recitations from the Quran.

Prayer and fasting are not allowed as a consideration for the hardship of menstruation (also when bleeding after childbirth) it is out of compassion.  Physiologically, menstruation is different from other ‘junub’ situations, in the sense that it is not possible to wash off the blood or to stop the bleeding for an extended period of time.  The blood loss is considerable for it to cause weakness as well as emotional strain.  Same reason that intercourse is not allowed at such a time.  Compassion toward women’s condition is evident in all these restrictions. 

These restrictions are due to the physical differences between men and women, as created by Allah, and with that in mind the ‘hardship is followed by ease’.  If he created this difference and then did not take its hardship into consideration, that would be sexist.  This difference is not to be interpreted as a weakness or less than the other, for that is when we end up with sexist interpretations.

Regards
Uzma Mazhar